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HPAI Surveillance for Producers

HPAI Surveillance for Producers

Michigan’s Participation in USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy

As part of Michigan’s ongoing response to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle, the state became one of the first in the nation to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Milk Testing Strategy, a federal disease surveillance program initiated by a Federal Order issued on December 6, 2024.

The intent of the surveillance program is to assess the nation’s dairy cattle and detect any HPAI-infected herds. Doing so will serve to identify where the virus is and where the virus is not, helping contain and eliminate the disease across the country.

Within this program, Michigan has achieved Stage 4: Demonstrate H5 Absence/Elimination within a State / Unaffected Status.

Unaffected Status means the virus is no longer being detected in the state’s dairy cattle herds, but surveillance testing is still needed to demonstrate that herds remain free of the disease. Also, risk reduction strategies must continue on Michigan’s dairy farms as the threat posed by HPAI has not been eliminated. The virus continues to circulate in wild birds, creating the potential for the disease to spread to domestic animals.

For more information on the National Milk Testing Strategy, the states currently enrolled in this program, and their current status, please visit the USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy website.

Documents

  • Letter to dairy producers: November 25th letter sent to dairy producers in Michigan as a result of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) directing nation-wide, mandated testing of milk from dairy farms.
  • HPAI Positive Dairy Herd Guidelines: surveillance program producer guidelines for HPAI detection, including movement restrictions and quarantine guidelines.
  • HPAI Affected Dairies Classification Chart: after a surveillance test, a dairy is classified into one of four response types. This chart contains the definition, equivalent USDA classification, and the response action for each classification.

This page contains frequently asked questions for required USDA HPAI surveillance in licensed dairy herds.

In November, 2024, USDA announced a strategy to achieve National Disease Elimination status of HPAI in dairy herds. USDA is directing nation-wide, mandated test of milk from dairy farms. This testing will involve sampling milk from farm-level bulk tanks or milk silos at dairy processing plants, or some combination of the two. MDARD mailed dairy producers on November 25th, 2024 to inform producers about the activities. Below are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to initiative. Additional information about HPAI can also be found at Michigan.gov/BirdFlu. For further questions, please contact the MDARD Customer Service Center at 1-800-292-3939 (Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., EST) or email at MDARD-info@michigan.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • When does this program start and how often does milk sampling occur?

    Monthly. The sampling program starts December 1, 2024. Milk sampling from farms will only occur one (1) time per month. The surveillance program has been designed to be minimally invasive to dairy operations and will achieve sampling by coordinating that existing milk samples to move from a farm or cooperative’s normal testing laboratory to Michigan State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) where HPAI screen will be conducted.

  • What will I need to do differently in my operation for the sampling?

    Most likely nothing. Sampling is largely occurring with existing milk samples in coordination with laboratories. Some cooperatives required a slightly varied approach to sample submission due to structure of business operations. If you are interested in learning more about how your cooperative is working with USDA and MDARD on sampling, please contact your cooperative leadership.

  • How many times does the same sample get tested?

    The milk sample sent by a farm or cooperative’s laboratory to MSU VDL will be screened for HPAI in East Lansing. If MSU VDL’s screening shows a negative result, another sample from the same farm will not be screened again until a new milk sample is submitted the next month. If MSU VDL detects HPAI in a farm’s milk sample during a routine monthly screening, the milk sample is sent to USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) for confirmation of HPAI. Producers will be contacted by USDA and/or MDARD to begin a process towards achieving farm-level disease free status if the virus has been detected through this process.

  • Will my results be shared with the public?

    Individual results are considered confidential under Michigan’s Public Act 466 of 1988 (the Animal Industry Act) and will not be shared with the public, to dairy cooperatives, or the media.

  • Will this program automatically allow me to move my lactating dairy cattle across state lines if I am negative?

    No. Per USDA orders, lactating dairy cattle must be enrolled and participating in the USDA Dairy Herd Status Program Dairy Herd Status Program | Animal and Plant Health InspectionService with weekly farm-level bulk tank milk samples screened for HPAI or individual cattle tested for HPAI before moving them across state lines. Herds must achieve and remain at the “monitored, unaffected” status designation for farms to be able to move lactating dairy across state lines without needing to test individual cattle.

  • If I haven’t received milk sample HPAI test results but was expecting them, who can I call?

    The MDARD Customer Service Center MDARD - Contact MDARD / File a Complaint at 1-800-292-3939.

  • Will this program impact the ability for a farm to ship milk?

    Milk from sick or symptomatic cows should be diverted—as any dairy is required to do, per the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance 2015 PMO Final --so that it does not enter the human food supply. Movement of milk from non-symptomatic cows will still be able to be shipped and not be impacted by the USDA Dairy Herd Status (bulk tank) testing program.

  • Is Michigan the only state doing this work?

    No. USDA is working to implement this work in all 50 states. Michigan, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, California, Colorado, and Oregon are part of a first grouping of states implementing this work. Other states will be required to follow in the coming weeks.