Massachusetts Dairy Cows Are ‘100% Negative’ to Bird Flu, Officials Say

All Massachusetts dairy farms are now free of bird flu, state officials announced Monday.

At least 14 states across the country have had flocks test positive for bird flu since March, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources said.

Massachusetts is the first state to test dairy herds and get 100% negative results, the department said in a statement. Officials said they decided to test the herds to “protect public health” and demonstrate the safety of food coming from Massachusetts farms. In August, inspectors visited all 95 licensed dairy farms in Massachusetts to collect and test milk samples, the statement said.

“Massachusetts dairy farmers follow rigorous safety protocols and take great pride in producing the highest quality products,” said Ashley Randle, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. “This hard work keeps us all safe, and these test results demonstrate how supporting local agriculture and sourcing food from Massachusetts farms can keep our food supply strong and resilient.”

According to the American Veterinary Medicine Association, when bird flu affects a lactating cow, it can cause “abnormal milk appearance.” In some cases, it affects the cow’s appetite and reduces milk production. Dairy farmers have contracted bird flu by coming into contact with unpasteurized milk from infected cows, state officials said. No human cases have been reported in Massachusetts.

“Pasteurization kills the virus and makes it safe for human consumption,” the state Department of Agricultural Resources said.

David Shepard, president of the Massachusetts Dairy Farmers Association, said in a statement that he was “grateful” to the government for ensuring the safety and security of Massachusetts’ dairy industry.