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Beginning this week, the Georgia Department of Agriculture began testing for H5N1 in raw milk at the plant level at Georgia’s commercial milk plants. This is in response to USDA’s national order on December 6 that all 48 contiguous states begin testing for H5N1 in raw milk. Joining Georgia this week in the National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) program are Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia. 13 other states started testing in December. According to GDA, all samples of Georgia-origin milk tested this week were negative for H5N1. Samples of out-of-state milk collected at a Georgia plant were sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NSVL) in Ames, Iowa and are in the process of being tested.
Georgia has been conducting individual animal tests in accordance with USDA’s April 2024 order on animal movement, and after nearly 1,000 individual animal tests. Those individual tests all came back negative. The raw milk testing protocol will focus on milk arriving at commercial milk plants. GDA Dairy Division personnel will pull samples either from all silos at the milk plant or from individual tankers arriving at the plant. GDA will sample milk from all the bulk tank units (BTUs) arriving/having arrived at the plant that day so as to capture a representative sample of milk arriving at the plant. Plant operators will know which BTUs have shipped milk to the plant leading up to or at the time of sampling, but they will not know which samples correspond to which BTU nor will they be privy to individual test results.
GDA plans to collect samples as part of the state’s required testing per the NMTS and also as part of USDA’s national milk silo surveillance program. Samples of GA milk as part of the state specific testing protocol will be sent to the UGA Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Athens or Tifton for testing while samples from the national silo program will be sent only to the NVSL in Ames, Iowa.
GDA will collect and test 4 samples each for the national silo program and the state-specific program. Beginning in February, GDA will also work with producer-processors to collect monthly samples to be tested at the UGA labs.
GDA has worked directly with several stakeholders, including Georgia Milk Producers, to ensure that sampling and testing does not interfere with continuity of business and assure that any state testing program follows the appropriate and scientific protocols. GMP anticipates this testing will demonstrate Georgia is H5N1 free, and in the event that a detection is found in milk originating in Georgia, we trust GDA will work with GMP, milk handlers, and farmers to limit risk to additional dairies, their employees, and the industry reps that serve those farms.
Below is a copy of GDA’s guidance document outlining the testing protocol. If producers have any questions they can contact GDA directly at animalhealth@agr.georgia.gov or feel free to contact Bryce Trotter (bryce@gamilk.org or 229-221-3906).
Memo on Georgia Raw Milk Surveillance Testing for H5N1
First Mortality from HPAI Reported in LA
Earlier this week, several news outlets and officials in Louisiana confirmed that an individual had recently passed away after a serious infection of avian influenza. In this particular instance, the individual was over the age of 65, had underlying health conditions, and was exposed to avian influenza through a backyard flock. This particular strain of avian influenza was different from the strain identified in dairy cattle across the U.S. According to the AP report yesterday, 66 individuals have been confirmed with infections from bird flu, but most infections to this point have been mild and detected among individuals working with infected birds or cattle.
AP: First US Bird Flu Death Announced in Louisiana
Resources for Dairy Producers
Information on Assistance for Farmers Affected by H5N1 in Dairy Cattle
USDA HPAI in Dairy Cattle Resource Page
USDA Order on Movement of Lactating Dairy Cattle
USDA Additional Guidance on Movement Order
USDA Movement Order FAQ
Secure Milk Supply Biosecurity Website
UGA Veterinary Diagnostic Lab Email Guidance
To learn more about USDA’s response to HPAI in dairy cattle, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock.
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