Minnesota to begin testing raw cow milk for H5N1
Feb. 18—Beginning the week of Feb. 24, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), working with state government and industry partners, will begin sampling and testing raw cow's milk for the H5N1 flu virus to identify where the virus is present, monitor trends, and prevent its spread to unaffected dairy herds and poultry flocks around the state, according to a release Tuesday.
"H5N1 is an emerging disease in dairy cattle, and conducting disease surveillance supports the state's ability to effectively respond to outbreaks and limit the potential impact on the livestock and poultry industries, as well as on public health," said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen.
There is no concern for the safety of the public milk supply, as all milk sold in stores is pasteurized to kill bacteria and viruses, and pasteurization has been shown to effectively eliminate active H5N1 virus present in milk.
People and pets should not consume unpasteurized (raw) milk, raw milk cheeses, or raw or undercooked meat from animals with suspected or confirmed H5N1 virus infection. All raw dairy products may contain harmful bacteria, parasites, or viruses which can cause illness.
The MDA will order the testing of raw milk samples already collected from each of Minnesota's approximately 1,600 dairy farms on a monthly basis. These routinely collected bulk milk samples, which are taken before the pasteurization process, will be sub-sampled by industry labs and sent for H5N1 testing to the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Lab (MVDL) at the University of Minnesota.
When a sample analysis shows the presence of influenza virus, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) will be notified to collect an additional verification sample to confirm the presence of the H5N1 virus on the identified farm.
All non-negative samples will also be forwarded to the National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for further confirmation and genetic typing. The BAH will also initiate a farm quarantine and disease investigation.
Any farm where H5N1 is confirmed will be quarantined for a minimum of 30 days, during which no livestock, poultry, cats, manure, waste milk, or carcasses can leave the farm without a movement permit from the BAH.
Milk from healthy animals can still be sold for pasteurization, as usual.
Before lifting the quarantine, a farm must have three consecutive negative bulk milk tank tests taken at least seven days apart, and complete management and biosecurity plans for preventing the spread of the virus. Case managers will help farms work through this process.
When H5N1 is confirmed in a herd, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will request a list of people on the farm who were exposed to the infected herd. MDH workers will contact these individuals to give them the option to enroll in human health monitoring.
Human cases of H5N1 are rare, and to date no human cases have been found in Minnesota.
"Although we understand that people may be concerned about getting sick with H5N1, the risk to the general public remains low at this time," said Dr. Ruth Lynfield, state epidemiologist and medical director at MDH. "People most at risk are those who have direct contact with infected or potentially infected animals and their environments."
Symptoms of H5N1 in people can include red, itchy, watery eyes and/or cough, sore throat, and a fever.
This testing plan is part of the National Milk Testing Strategy announced in December by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS), which requires sampling and testing of all raw cow milk for H5N1.
The MDA is working with the federal agency on funding for the testing.
USDA-APHIS is providing financial support to help dairy producers enhance biosecurity on their farms and follow the necessary response protocols if H5N1 is confirmed in their herd.
Anyone with questions about the testing plan can contact the MDA at TestingMilk.MDA@state.mn.us or visit the MDA website for more information.
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