The Colorado Department of Agriculture has announced it will require dairy farmers to test their milk supplies weekly for avian flu. Announced Tuesday as concerns over bird flu remain high across the country.
Colorado state veterinarian Maggie Baldwin said it’s been about three months since avian influenza infected Colorado livestock, but “we’re not able to contain the spread of the disease at this time.”
“This disease has had a devastating impact not only on the dairy industry, but also on the poultry industry,” she said in a statement. “With the strong support of the dairy and poultry industries, we feel this is the best next step to protect our state’s critical industries.”
Bird flu, which poses little danger to humans, struck poultry and cattle herds across the country last year, with 11 people infected in this latest outbreak after coming into contact with infected livestock.
is more than 100 million chickens nationwide According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are currently about 168 cows infected with the current avian flu outbreak, and about 168 dairy herds have also reported infections.
Colorado’s milk surveillance program will help the state track and respond to cases of the disease in cows. Pasteurization of milk at low temperatures kills the pathogens, making milk from infected cows safe to drink.
The testing mandate was prompted by a chicken outbreak in Colorado, where about 70 percent of chickens in the state were culled due to avian flu.
“Mandatory surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza on all Grade A commercial dairy farms in Colorado is an important next step to contain the virus and protect our food system,” state Agriculture Commissioner Kate Greenberg said in a statement.
Colorado state officials say it has the highest number of reported bird flu cases in the nation.
