CDC Expanding Bird Flu Testing Recommendations for Farm Workers

Nov 12, 2024

By Alvin Jones

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are recommending farm workers get tested for bird flu if they have contacted infected animals, even if they have no symptoms.

The CDC, in a new study, found four farm workers tested positive for H5N1 antibodies and didn't report symptoms. The discovery is a new development following multiple bird flu outbreaks at farms across the country, and here in Michigan.

The study conducted blood tests on 115 farm workers in Michigan and Colorado. Eight tested positive for H5N1 antibodies, and four did not report having any symptoms.

The agency is now recommending farmers who milk cows and deal with sick poultry use personal protective equipment (PPE) on the job.

They also say workers who have interacted with infected animals without PPE, should use the anti-flu medication Tamiflu.

Doug Chapin is with the Michigan Milk Producers Association. He said the dairy industry, along with state and federal agencies, are dealing with this year's avian flu outbreak efficiently.

"Today where we are is a much better position than we were in April when we had a lot of unknowns. We do understand much more about the virus, how it will affect the cattle," he said. “I do feel like the industry is committed to getting ahead of this.”

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Video: Next Mile Ep 1: Navigating Disease Prevention

The Next Mile, host Dr. Meredith Petersen, Director of Swine Health at the National Pork Board, sits down with Dr. Cara Haden, Director of Animal Welfare and Biosecurity at Pipestone, to unpack the National Swine Health Strategy and what it means for producers across the country.

Meredith walks through how the strategy came together: a producer-led effort launched in March 2025 in response to input gathered at the National Pork Industry Forum, built around two core goals, keeping foreign and emerging diseases out of the U.S. herd and reducing the impact of domestic diseases already here, including long-term elimination targets for PRRSV and PEDV.

Cara then brings the conversation down to the farm level, sharing how Pipestone scores biosecurity across seven key areas: air, feed, water, people, supplies, trucks and pigs, plus everything within the farm perimeter. She and Meredith dig into why farm leadership and daily culture, not just protocols on paper, ultimately determine whether biosecurity efforts stick.

Whether you're a producer, veterinarian, or anyone invested in herd health, this episode offers a grounded look at where the industry is headed and what everyday habits make the biggest difference.