Avian Influenza (H5N1 Bird Flu) is an influenza-based disease causing major outbreaks and dramatic effects on U.S. agriculture. According to the Financial Times, The H5N1 outbreak is having extreme effects on the U.S. agriculture industry, particularly in the poultry and dairy farming industries.

Since 2022, the virus itself has led to the controlled killing of millions of birds, causing huge disruptions in egg and poultry meat supplies. The virus has also directly affected dairy cattle.

 In April 2024, a human case of H5N1 infection was reported in Texas, linked to exposure to infected dairy cows. Though this incident is scary, it ultimately highlights the potential for cross-species transmission and the importance of monitoring dairy herds.

 According to WPTZ Plattsburgh- Burlington, in a concerted effort to combat the spread of avian influenza, the Green Mountain state has joined a national milk testing strategy aimed at monitoring and controlling the virus’s impact on dairy herds. 

The initiative is part of a broader national response to the H5N1 strain. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), The National Milk Testing Strategy was created in 2024 and is designed to detect the presence of Avian Influenza in dairy herds across the nation. The program runs off collecting and analyzing milk samples from dairy farms to identify potential infections early, enabling swift containment measures. 

As of January 2025, 28 states, including Vermont, have enrolled in the program, representing nearly 65% of the nation’s milk production. 

The Green Mountain state’s involvement in this initiative underscores the state’s commitment to safeguarding its dairy industry.

 According to the Vermont General Assembly, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) has been conducting monthly testing of cow milk from dairy farm bulk tanks. Additionally, all lactating dairy cows moving across state lines are tested to prevent the spread of the virus. 

According to the CDC, though the primary concern has been the impact on agriculture, public health officials have also been vigilant. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported sporadic human cases of H5N1, primarily among individuals with direct exposure to infected animals. 

The CDC maintains that the public health risk remains low, emphasizing the importance of biosecurity measures on farms to prevent human infections. There is still a lot of knowledge that we do not know about in the world around us. Some of it can be stressful to take in, especially when you’re focusing on a viral disease like Bird Influenza. 

However, in these beyond-stressful situations, it is vital to know what you do have control over and what you do not. It is extremely important that Vermont has joined the National Milk Testing Strategy to protect farms and livestock in the Green Mountain state.