The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Friday ordered testing of the nation’s milk supply for bird flu to help monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows.
The USDA said that raw or unpasteurized milk from dairy farms and processors across the country must be tested on request starting on December 16.
Testing will begin in six states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
The testing is aimed at “containing and ultimately eliminating the virus,” known as Type A H5N1, officials said.
“This will give farms and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves, and it will put us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement.