On-farm bulk milk sampling program begins in Vermont to prevent spread of bird flu [Video]

Officials in Vermont are continuing to take steps to prevent bird flu from spreading in the state.On Thursday, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture started a new bulk milk sampling program to protect dairy farms from the possible spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza that is more commonly known as bird flu.Officials will be testing raw milk from all Grade A milk-producing farms in Vermont each month in an effort to detect an infection early. The testing is being funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and comes at no cost to local farmers.If the milk tests positive, officials said they would work with experts to take action and prevent the spread.The agency said, “only a small number of humans have contracted infections from working with infected dairy cattle, and nearly all infections have been minor.”None of the infections have happened in Vermont, but the agency said it wants to …