As part of a federal effort to monitor the virus, which has been found in humans and animals, including one person in Oregon, Oregon will begin testing milk for bird flu this week.
In a statement released late Wednesday, the Oregon Department of Agriculture announced that some dairy processors will gather raw milk samples and submit them to the state’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory on the campus of Oregon State University for testing for a virulent strain of the bird flu virus, the H5N1, which is prevalent in wild birds and spreads during migrations. Although the government did not specify the initial number of participating processors, authorities stated that by January 1, they intend to monitor 75% of the state’s commercial milk supply.
The program should increase the trust that Oregon farmers, farmworkers, and consumers have in the state’s food supply, according to state veterinarian Ryan Scholz.
About 40 backyard flocks in Oregon and flocks across the nation have been proven to harbor the latest strain of the virus, which first surfaced in 2022. Commercial poultry businesses, particularly those in Clackamas County, have also been impacted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over 121,000 birds in 49 states have been impacted since 2022.
It was discovered in dairy cows in Texas in March, and the animals from that herd were transferred to another location. Authorities have been keeping an eye on outbreaks in roughly 720 herds since March, with roughly one-third of them in California.
Since the first cow in Texas tested positive for H5N1 back in March 2024, we have been collaborating closely with Oregon’s dairy industry and processors, Scholtz stated in a statement.
The first cases of infected pigs in the country have also been found in two pigs from a small, noncommercial farm in Crook County, Oregon.
Additionally, over 30 instances have been reported in California, and approximately 60 people—mostly farmworkers—have contracted the virus. About ten people each have been affected in Colorado and Washington, and one case in Oregon has been linked to the Clackamas County poultry facility. Although they would not provide any information, Oregon health officials stated that the patient received antiviral drug treatment.
Although the virus has not yet moved from person to person, epidemiologists are concerned about the infections in pigs and cattle. According to state epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger, pigs are more susceptible to human influenza, and if a pig contracted both viruses, avian flu may evolve and pose a greater risk to humans.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is monitoring the spread of avian flu nationally through the raw milk testing program. This initial testing is being conducted in five more states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania.
Although raw milk is permitted to be sold in Oregon, people may only purchase it straight from the farm; supermarkets do not carry it. However, Washington state permits the selling in retail establishments, and several outbreaks have been linked to this practice there.
Other dairy products have also been confirmed to be safe, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has tested pasteurized milk in supermarkets and found no signs of the virus. Although pasteurization eliminates viruses and other organisms, it can contaminate raw milk, which is why food safety experts advise against consuming it.
According to U.S. and state officials, biosecurity measures are the most effective way to stop the disease from spreading. To prevent the spread of disease across species, they include actions like keeping sick animals apart, donning personal protective equipment, and restricting visitors’ interaction with other animals. USDA officials had hoped that these steps would stop the virus from spreading among cattle, but they haven’t worked.
— The Oregon Capital Chronicle’s Lynne Terry
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