USDA Orders Dairy Cows Moving Across State Lines Be Tested For Avian Flu

The New York Times (4/24, Weiland, Mueller, Anthes) reports, “The Biden administration on Wednesday said that it would begin requiring dairy cows moving across state lines to be tested for bird flu, which has been spreading in herds for months.” The new measure, ordered by the USDA, “is part of a growing effort to stamp out the spread of a virus that federal health officials have sought to reassure Americans poses little risk to people so far.” CDC Principal Deputy Director Nirav Shah, MD, “told reporters on Wednesday that there were no changes in the genetic makeup of the virus that would allow it to spread easily among people. So far, Dr. Shah said, states have been monitoring 44 people who were exposed to the virus and are being monitored for infection.” The Washington Post (4/24, Nirappil, Sun) reports, “Biden administration officials said the move is meant to contain transmission of the virus known as H5N1 and to reduce the threat to livestock, but they maintained that the risk to humans remains low.” The spread of the disease “has drawn public health concerns because it marks the first time bird flu has moved to cows, and greater transmission in mammals increases the risk that the virus could spread more easily in humans.” The AP (4/24, Aleccia) reports, “The federal order was announced a day after health officials said they had detected inactivated remnants of the virus, known as Type A H5N1, in samples taken from milk during processing and after retail sale. They stressed that such remnants pose no known risk to people or the milk supply.” Reuters (4/24, Polansek, Steenhuysen) also reports.