Wisconsin Begins Bird Flu Testing in Dairy Milk

By Blake Jackson

Wisconsin will begin testing raw milk from dairy farms for signs of H5N1 avian influenza, joining a national effort to protect both animal and human health.

This new testing initiative follows USDA’s December announcement requiring states to conduct bird flu surveillance in dairy milk.

Since March last year, 17 states have reported positive avian flu cases in dairy herds. Though most recent cases have been limited to the western U.S., Wisconsin is preparing a proactive response.

The state’s approach is unique. Instead of testing bulk milk from silos that mix milk from various farms, Wisconsin will collect samples from individual farms.

This strategy avoids the logistical complications of tracing infections back to source farms and ensures targeted testing.

Adam Brock, administrator of the Division of Food and Recreational Safety at Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP), explained the decision. “We got to make sure the biosecurity is safe and that we keep farmers safe and keep them focused on what they need to do, which is continue to bring milk, so just trying to make it balance out all the way around. That's it took time. Wisconsin's a unique state,” said Brock.

All 5,000+ dairy farms in Wisconsin are expected to be tested over the coming months. Once initial testing is complete, the state will switch to a maintenance-based schedule, potentially testing a smaller percentage of farms regularly.

Testing is supported by USDA funding and won’t affect milk prices. Samples will be analyzed by the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, with an estimated 1,000 to 1,300 samples processed each week.

If H5N1 is detected, DATCP’s Division of Animal Health will notify the farm, initiate quarantine protocols, and provide assistance. Milk that meets quality standards may still be shipped.

Brock assured consumers of product safety - “I feel confident that cheese, milk, yogurt, anything that's pasteurized, consumers do not need to worry.”

Thanks to pasteurization, the commercial milk supply remains safe, even as precautionary testing continues.

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