Today the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced new assistance programs for producers affected by H5N1 avian flu outbreaks in cattle.
The assistance is meant to both improve on-site biosecurity and address financial losses connected to lost milk production in herds affected by H5N1. The USDA said the measures build on a federal order, which took effect on April 29, that called for collecting and aggregating H5N1 test results and halting most interstate movement of lactating herds.
The new programs incentivizes personal protective equipment (PPE) for farm workers who interact with infected herds, which now number at least 42. The USDA will also reimburse farmers for veterinary expense associated with infected animals and offset shipping costs for influenza A testing at laboratories in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.
"Taken together, these tools represent a value of up to $28,000 per premises to support increased biosecurity activities over the next 120 days," the two agencies said.
CDC moves on wastewater surveillance
HHS also announced new funding investments through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) totaling $101 million to mitigate the risk of H5N1.
"Although the CDC's assessment of the risk of avian influenza infection for the general public continues to remain low at this time, these investments reflect the Department's commitment to prioritizing the health and safety of the American public," HHS said.
Although the CDC's assessment of the risk of avian influenza infection for the general public continues to remain low at this time, these investments reflect the Department's commitment to prioritizing the health and safety of the American public.
Included in the CDC funds are $8 million in vaccine activities to determine whether current Candidate Vaccine Viruses would be effective and the current strain of H5N1. The CDC will also allocate $3 million for wastewater surveillance.
Today Reuters reported the CDC will begin to post data on influenza A found in wastewater in a public dashboard.
The news agency quoted Marc Johnson, PhD, a virologist at the University of Missouri who developed a wastewater monitoring system for COVID.
"I'm not worried about the cows. I'm not worried about the milk. But I'm worried that there are lots of other animals that it can jump to, and eventually it's going to find a combination that can make it into humans if we're not careful," he said.
No live virus in commercial milk
The FDA today announced the completion of testing on 297 retail dairy samples; all were found to be negative for viable H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses.
Preliminary results had been announced last week. The FDA said it would continue to fund surveillance and research on the safety of commercial milk.
The agency also said an additional $8 million is being made available to support FDA efforts to ensure the safety of the commercial milk supply. "This funding will support the agency's ability to validate pasteurization criteria, conduct surveillance at different points in the milk production system, bolster laboratory capacity and provide needed resources to train staff on biosecurity procedures," the FDA said in a news release.
The FDA also continues to advise against the consumption of raw milk.
"To date," the FDA added, "the totality of evidence—including studies on the effectiveness of pasteurization against multiple pathogens, recent studies on the effectiveness of pasteurization of HPAI H5N1 in eggs at lower temperatures than generally used in dairy products, negative retail sample results to date, and real-world evidence from the last 100 years of the PMO [Pasteurized Milk Ordinance]—continues to indicate that the commercial milk supply is safe.
"At the same time, the FDA also continues to advise against the consumption of raw milk (milk that has not been pasteurized)."
New H5N1 detections
Finally Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported yesterday 6 more dairy herds infected with H5N1, raising the total to 42. They are in already affected states: Michigan (4 herds), Colorado (1), and Idaho (1). The number of affected states remains nine.
In Michigan, both a dairy herd and a backyard poultry flock in Ionia County were hit with H5N1. That county has reported the virus in cattle previously and, earlier this week, in pigeons.
