USDA Eases Bird Flu Regulations Following Industry Pushback, Potentially Contributing to Spread

Initially, the USDA's April 2024 order required dairy cattle crossing state lines to undergo a bird flu test within seven days of travel. However, after feedback from the dairy industry, which found the regulations burdensome, the agency scaled back its initial plan for more stringent measures. The original proposal called for testing within a three-day window.

By the time the order was issued, bird flu had been detected in 33 cattle herds across eight states. Since then, the outbreak has expanded to more than 330 herds in 14 states, with 17 cases reported among dairy workers. Experts argue that relaxing the regulations may have inadvertently contributed to the further spread of the virus.

The USDA has defended its approach, stating that adjustments were made to balance public health protection with industry feasibility. However, the rapid increase in outbreaks has raised concerns among public health officials, who suggest that the agency may not be acting aggressively enough to curb the virus’s transmission.

The USDA has conducted over 16,000 pre-movement tests as part of its ongoing efforts to contain the outbreak and is currently investigating whether improper cattle movement may have introduced the virus to California.