The Kansas Department of Agriculture has been actively working with the Kansas Dairy Industry to respond to the nationwide concerns due to the discovery of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, in dairy cattle. The department of AG has also been closely following the U. S. Food and Drug Administration’s testing of the commercial milk supply, which recently confirmed the effectiveness of the pasteurization process. The Division of Animal Health is helping dairies and veterinarians to understand and comply with the federal order from the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service which took effect recently. The order requires lactating dairy cattle to receive a negative test for the virus prior to interstate movement. It also requires laboratories and state veterinarians to report positive results to the USDA.
The FDA reaffirmed its confidence that the commercial milk supply is safe. The pasteurization process of heating milk to a high temperature ensures milk and dairy products can be safely consumed. In line with long-standing policy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend consuming unpasteurized milk or raw milk. Dairies are also required to only allow milk from healthy animals to enter the food supply chain.