The USDA released a press statement detailing a new mandate requiring the collection of raw milk samples across the U.S. for H5N1 testing. That mandate is slated to stay into effect into the new year, unless the new administration changes it once it comes into office.

According to the release, bovine H5N1, commonly known as bird flu, was detected in milk in March 2024.

Since federal regulators first raised concerns about H5N1 cases in some cows, most of which are on California dairy farms, there have been very few cases of humans contracting the disease and zero fatalities. This fact contradicts the panicked tone of the press release.

The CDC says there have only been 58 cases of H5N1 in humans throughout the country and only 35 of these were related to human interaction with cows. Most symptoms reported were red or dry eyes and mild congestion. Each person recovered full, typically in a few days.

Of a total of 105,805 dairy workers in the US, approximately 0.054818% have ever been diagnosed with N5N1.