New Mexico has initiated a milk testing program to detect the variant of avian influenza, H5N1 TK, that has been found in dairy cows, with the goal of identifying further outbreaks in the dairy industry and preventing their spread to humans.
According to State Veterinarian Samantha Holeck, the program allows officials to detect the virus before symptoms appear on infected cows, enabling them to take action sooner. The state will collect 10 milliliters of milk from each herd’s bulk tank and send it to a diagnostic laboratory for testing.
If a sample tests positive, the farmer will be notified individually, and the herd will need to enroll in the federal Protect the Herd program and test weekly. If the test is negative, they can continue with either the state program or return to the federal program.
New Mexico’s move comes as concerns about avian influenza spreading quietly to humans grow. The virus has devastated wild bird populations and killed tens of millions of birds worldwide. In recent weeks, egg prices have skyrocketed due to shortages caused by the outbreak.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported that the disease is spreading to 16 states and close to 1,000 herds since its detection in April. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed 67 human cases, including 40 with dairy cattle exposure, and are investigating potential spread to cats.
The new study found that milk testing may be more effective in identifying infections in dairy cows than other methods.
Source: https://sourcenm.com/2025/02/18/new-mexico-initiates-milk-testing-program-for-avian-flu-this-week