To enhance biosecurity measures and protect against bird flu, health and agriculture authorities are allocating millions of dollars to dairy producers through the federal government. An initial funding of $98 million was disclosed on Friday and is expected to be utilized within a span of just four months.
Following a Texas dairy farm worker testing positive for the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus earlier this year, further actions have been taken. Inactive virus fragments have been found in pasteurized milk, and 42 cattle herds in nine states have tested positive for bird flu. While authorities reassure the public of the safety of the commercial milk supply, they acknowledge the need to deepen their understanding of the virus's impact on animals, humans, and the food chain.
According to reports, dairy farmers have shown little willingness to actively engage in government initiatives to keep an eye on employees and cows. Under the new proposal, farmers and individuals supporting the dairy business will get up to $28,000 per location in compensation for a wide range of biosecurity and testing activities, such as:
Workers in areas with impacted herds would get monthly reimbursements toward personal protective equipment or laundry services, provided they take part in government studies. payments for biosecurity planning, including the installation of in-line sampling equipment and safety precautions for veterinary professionals and others who transit between dairy farms regularly, such as feed and milk transporters.
Funding for the disposal of milk through heat treatment
Paying for the testing and care of animals that are ill or may become ill. The former testing standards that still apply to some cattle transportation scenarios are supplemented by the new procedures.
According to federal officials, under an ongoing program known as the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, producers would also receive compensation for milk production losses caused by outbreaks and investigations.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture jointly released a news release on Friday that stated, "While dairy cows that have been infected with H5N1 generally recover well, and there is little mortality associated with the disease, it does dramatically limit milk production, causing economic losses for producers with affected premises." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States state that avian influenza poses a lower risk to public health, but people should avoid unprotected contact with sick or dead animals and their excreta and secretions, including wild or domesticated poultry. The public should also avoid consuming undercooked food, including dairy products from confirmed or suspected transmission of avian influenza, unpasteurized milk, or raw cheese.