OMAHA (DTN) -- As the bird flu outbreak in dairy cows continues to uptick in herds affected, USDA announced Friday that it is offering some financial assistance to dairy farms affected by the H5N1 virus.

USDA payments totaling $98 million are available to farmers with lost milk production, as well as personal protection equipment (PPE) and increased testing for both dairy cows and farm workers.

In the past few days, six more dairy herds have tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain H5N1. That includes four herds in Michigan, one in Colorado and one in Idaho. That brings the total to 42 affected herds in nine states since the outbreak began in late March.

On Friday, USDA laid out some funding for farmers to help protect against the risk of infected dairy cows also passing the infection on to farm workers. That includes providing up to $2,000 a month for dairy farms that give workers PPE gear or provide a laundry service for uniforms. The funding also is meant to encourage producers with infected herds to have farm workers participate in a joint USDA/Centers for Disease Control workplace and farm worker study.

Earlier this week, the CDC asked state health officials to make PPE gear available to livestock workers, but reports show some states have been reluctant to do so. The CDC continues talking with states about incentives that would encourage farm workers to participate in studies.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced the department will spend $101 million to curb the spread and mutation of the H5N1 virus.

At a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf told senators the current risk to public health is low, but the virus continues to mutate. "We need to continue to prepare for the possibility that it might jump to humans," he said.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continued testing commercial milk supplies as well. It reported Friday that egg inoculation tests connected with a sampling study of retail milk also showed there was no viable H5N1 virus.

"While our retail sampling test results to date are clear about the safety of the commercial milk supply and representative of real-world scenarios, additional scientific work is being undertaken to validate the criteria for pasteurization relative to the HPAI H5N1 virus and will include tests using pasteurization equipment typically used by milk processors," FDA stated.

The risk of infection remains low, but workers at dairy farms have a higher risk of being infected. At least one Texas farm worker tested positive for H5N1 last month after showing signs of conjunctivitis.

USDA issued a federal order last month requiring producers to test lactating dairy cows before they can be shipped for interstate movement. On Friday, USDA said the department will work with states with affected herds "as they consider movement restrictions within their borders to further limit the spread of H5N1 between herds to reduce further spread of this virus."

USDA is establishing compensation to infected dairy farms under the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) to help affected farms that experience lost milk production. While cows are generally sick for about 10 days and recover, USDA said an infection can "dramatically limit milk production, causing economic losses for producers with affected premises." The ELAP funds would help offset some of these losses.

USDA detailed other areas for farm support as well that combined could reach up to $28,000 per farm or premise:

-- Affected farmers can receive reimbursement for veterinary costs associated with H5N1 infections. That includes covering costs for veterinarians to collect samples for testing cattle and supplies needed to do so. The reimbursement can go as high as $10,000 per affected premise. USDA also will pay up to $50 for shipping up to two test samples per month to the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.

-- Producers can receive up to $2,000 per affected farm or premise for using heat treatments to dispose of milk in a bio-secure manner.

-- Up to $1,500 per farm to develop biosecurity plans based on existing milk supply plans. This includes ensuring more enhanced biosecurity for individuals who move between dairy farms, such as milk haulers, veterinarians and feed trucks. USDA also will provide $100 to producers who purchase and use an in-line sampler for milk systems.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he has been speaking to dairy producers in some affected states to convey the importance of cooperating with efforts to test for the disease and support CDC's work to test farm workers. He said producers view the problem as more of an animal health issue and may not appreciate or understand the public health implications, especially if the virus continues to mutate.

Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, thanked Vilsack and other federal agencies for using their existing authorities to assist dairy farmers dealing with H5N1.

"Care for farm workers and animals is critical for milk producers, as is protecting against potential human health risks and reassuring the public," Doud said. "We look forward to continued collaboration and consultation with USDA and other federal agencies as we monitor, understand, and contain this outbreak, and we will do what we can to help dairy farmers understand and benefit from these initiatives as swift implementation is put into motion."

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

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