🐄The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) orders mandatory testing of dairy cattle for influenza A virus prior to interstate movement and the provision of epidemiological information and animal movement tracing if dairy cattle test positive, following the detection of viral particles of H5N1 avian influenza in the commercial supply of pasteurized milk, to protect the US livestock industry from the virus.

"USDA has identified spread between cows within the same herd, spread from cows to poultry, spread between dairies associated with cattle movements, and cows without clinical signs that have tested positive ... The novel movement of H5N1 between wild birds and dairy cows requires further testing and time to develop a critical understanding to support any future courses of action. This Federal Order is critical to increasing the information available for USDA. Requiring positive test reporting will help USDA better under this disease and testing before inter...