Dairy testing shows no live H5N1 virus

By Scout Nelson

Federal officials have confirmed that no live H5N1 avian flu virus was found in dairy products after a second round of testing. The testing, which included a broader range of products such as cheese and butter, was conducted across 27 states, according to Steve Grube, MD, chief medical officer for the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).

The testing included 167 samples, with various products such as raw-milk cheeses, butter, ice cream, and milk. While 17% of the products showed traces of the virus's RNA, no viable virus was detected in follow-up tests, confirming the effectiveness of commercial pasteurization.

“Dairy products aren't always made where the milk was collected, making it difficult to trace the source of virus traces,” Grube said. All 23 aged raw milk samples tested negative for viral RNA.

Eric Deeble, DVM, USDA's deputy undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, announced that the USDA has provided $2 million in support to 23 farms affected by avian flu-related milk losses. The USDA is also launching a study to test beef samples from culled dairy cows for the H5N1 virus, with plans to test 800 samples over the next year.

Though H5N1 cases in dairy herds seem to have slowed, with 190 herds affected in 13 states, federal officials continue to monitor the situation closely, especially as fall approaches and interstate dairy cow movements increase.

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