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In this file photo, a line of Holstein dairy cows feed through a fence at a dairy farm in Idaho on March 11, 2009. More than 500 new cases in 15 states have been confirmed in dairy cattle in the last 30 days, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. No virus has been detected in Pennsylvania cattle.
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State begins testing milk to prevent avian flu outbreak

Charlie Litchfield/AP Photo

State begins testing milk to prevent avian flu outbreak

Pa.'s dairy cattle are safe, for now, state officials say

Precautionary bulk testing of milk began in Pennsylvania this week to prevent the spread of avian influenza, state Department of Agriculture officials announced.

No virus has been detected in Pennsylvania cattle, even as cases continue to rise elsewhere: more than 500 new cases in 15 states have been confirmed in dairy cattle in the last 30 days, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is taking this preventative measure to pinpoint and contain the source of viral infections and prevent the spread of Influenza A, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), said state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding in a news release. Procedures are detailed in a quarantine order, which went into effect Nov. 20.

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Several other states have implemented mandatory bulk testing of milk to reduce the spread of HPAI, including California, Colorado, Michigan, and Oklahoma.

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Not typically fatal in dairy cattle, HPAI can severely affect milk production, lead to serious illness in some cows, and substantially strain farm operations. The virus is fatal in poultry, according to state agriculture officials.

Poultry and dairy are the two largest sectors among Pennsylvania’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry, which supports more than 593,000 jobs statewide.

“Taking this proactive step will ensure that we can protect our cattle, poultry, and farmworkers,” Mr. Redding said. “We are taking this step after careful consideration, in consultation with dairy and poultry farmers, and after voluntary testing was not adequate to get samples necessary for detection and prevention. Pennsylvania’s large number of farms with both dairy cattle and poultry present unique risks that demand extra vigilance.”

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“One thing of importance is that we have a lot of dairy farms close by or even located on the same property as poultry farms,” said Dr. Ernest Hovingh, a clinical professor, director of the Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, and Extension & Field Investigation veterinarian at Penn State University in University Park. “There is evidence that this virus has spread from dairy to poultry and it’s not fatal to cows but it is fatal to birds. The (bulk milk testing) program does help that aspect of it” by also offering a degree of protection to the state’s poultry farmers.

Milk samples will be collected from bulk milk tank trucks transporting milk from Pennsylvania farms to processing plants. If the receiving processing plant is in Pennsylvania, the sample will be collected at the plant by the processor. If the processing plant is outside Pennsylvania, the sample will be collected by the shipper, whether the shipper is an individual farmer or milk cooperative handling milk on behalf of farmers. Samples must have been taken by trained, certified personnel and submitted to a Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System lab within 48 hours of collection.

Samples will be tested for HPAI. If the virus is detected, it will trigger further investigation to identify the source. Special quarantine measures will be established to contain and eliminate the virus at the source.

The bulk milk testing is “going above and beyond. The goal is to collect milk from every single farm in Pennsylvania. That’s expensive,” said Dr. Hovingh, praising the efforts. “It’s a very comprehensive approach they're taking.” While the bulk milk testing won’t specifically prevent the spread, if the avian flu comes to the state, the testing would pick it up very quickly.

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Animals coming into Pennsylvania are also being tested and dairy farmers and workers who are visiting other farms have been repeatedly advised of the danger of spreading the disease via their shoes, clothes and even themselves, if they are infected. Since the virus was first diagnosed in U.S. dairy cows at the end of March, biosecurity has been on the radar of not only the state agriculture department, but also among state veterinarians and the Penn State Extension, Dr. Hovingh said.

“We’ve been reminding dairy farmers about that, Penn State Extensions have been reemphasizing it, the Center for Dairy Excellence has been reemphasizing it. It’s a team effort” to spread awareness and information, he said.

Pennsylvania joins only three states without an active HPAI outbreak — Arkansas, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma — in requiring precautionary testing at the processor level.

RFK Jr. touts raw milk

Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, has vowed in the past to allow wider distribution of raw milk across America. And he continues to tout the use of raw milk even as California health authorities acted Sunday to recall raw milk that had been contaminated with bird flu, according to CNN reports.

Health experts have long warned about the dangers of drinking raw milk.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “raw milk can contain a variety of disease-causing pathogens, as demonstrated by numerous scientific studies. These studies, along with numerous foodborne outbreaks, clearly demonstrate the risk associated with drinking raw milk.”

Raw milk is milk from animals like cows, sheep, or goats that has not been pasteurized.

The FDA website provides a variety of information about raw milk, from its dangers to common misconceptions, such as claims that it cures lactose intolerance, asthma and allergies; is better at preventing osteoporosis; and provides gastrointestinal health benefits.

Dr. Hovingh advised caution in opting for raw milk, especially now. 

“Even in states where avian flu is present, it’s a pretty good certainty that pasteurized milk is safe. There’s no good data whether raw milk is safe.”

Dr. Hovingh added that there have been reports of barn cats that drink raw milk at avian-flu infected farms that have been contracting the virus. “So there is enough concern out there and … we just don’t know what risk it might pose.”

Testing at Turner’s

Turner Dairy Farms in Penn Hills has been voluntarily participating in bulk milk testing for the last 20 weeks, according to Turner’s president, Chuck Turner. 

“We feel we have a responsibility to our family dairy partners, employees, and consumers to do the right thing to ensure safety and mitigate negative impacts to the industry. I appreciate the leadership of the Pa. Department of Ag to prevent the spread of avian flu, and believe they are making the right decision to require bulk milk testing,” Mr. Turner said in a prepared statement.

Reached Wednesday by telephone, Mr. Turner added, “The idea is to catch it early. It’s something we wish we didn’t have to do but … we’re here to protect the consuming public and also help other farms. It really is in the economic benefit of all farms” to participate in the testing.

Mr. Turner cited an instance months ago in Ohio where cattle from one farm tested positive but state agriculture officials took quick action and prevented the spread to neighboring farms.

“That’s what we are really trying to do. If it shows up here, the idea is to catch it early and prevent the spread,” Mr. Turner said, adding that the testing at his farm has run fairly smoothly thus far. 

First Published: November 29, 2024, 8:27 p.m.
Updated: December 2, 2024, 2:38 p.m.

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In this file photo, a line of Holstein dairy cows feed through a fence at a dairy farm in Idaho on March 11, 2009. More than 500 new cases in 15 states have been confirmed in dairy cattle in the last 30 days, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. No virus has been detected in Pennsylvania cattle.  (Charlie Litchfield/AP Photo)
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