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Federal officials expected to require H5N1 milk testing

A veterinarian and animal disease researcher says he’s expecting federal officials to require milk testing for the avian influenza virus.

Dr. Keith Poulsen with the University of Wisconsin’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory tells Brownfield a nationwide bulk tank or milk silo testing requirement is likely coming in early December. “That was announced a couple of weeks ago. We are expecting it every week recognizing how complicated it is, but hopefully after Thanksgiving or early December, we’re going to have a new federal order with more specific guidance about how can we effectively do national surveillance.”

Poulsen says the Colorado model with weekly bulk tank tests is the likely path federal officials will take. “Cows are moving all over the country all of the time, and we need to make sure we can eliminate this virus nationally as soon as possible. It’s going to take a while, but it can be done.”

Poulson says a national effort to eliminate the B313 variation of the H5N1 virus is important for cow and human health, and to prevent disrupting dairy export markets which account for 40% of U.S. production.

Poulson says there is presently a patchwork of state milk testing orders now, and some states that are not testing milk at all.

AUDIO: Dr. Keith Poulson discusses raw milk and the California recall, and the expected new federal requirement for bulk tank testing for the H5N1 virus with Brownfield’s Larry Lee.