Vt. ag officials say milk supply safe from bird flu

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont agriculture officials say the state’s milk supply is safe. It comes after new federal regulations requiring dairy cattle moving between states to be tested for the bird flu virus.

The federal order Wednesday was announced one day after health officials said they had detected inactivated remnants of the virus, known as Type A H5N1, in samples taken from milk during processing and from store shelves. They stressed that such remnants pose no known risk to people or the milk supply.

There have been no positive cases of bird flu with cows in Vermont or surrounding states. Vermont state veterinarian Dr. Kristin Haas says there are safeguards in place at both farms and processing plants and there is no concern for the milk supply. “The public can rest assured that the milk that they are purchasing at the stores is safe and dairy products are safe,” she said.

Avian influenza was first detected in dairy cows last month and has been found in nearly three dozen herds in eight states, according to the USDA. It is believed to have been spread through wild bird populations.

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