USDA official reports and updates

H5N1 Detected in 30 Dairy Herds Across 8 States, Milk Supply Remains Safe

Apr 24, 2024, 11:00 PM

The U.S. is currently grappling with an outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus in dairy cattle, detected in pasteurized milk across several states. Despite the presence of viral fragments, the FDA maintains that the commercial milk supply remains safe for consumption. The discovery has prompted increased surveillance and testing of dairy cows, as well as a federal directive to ramp up testing specifically for dairy cows. Health officials emphasize that the risk to humans from the commercial milk supply is low, and pasteurization processes are believed to inactivate the virus, although they do not remove the presence of viral particles. Over 30 dairy cattle herds in 8 states have been confirmed to be affected, with the USDA and FDA actively involved in the response.