Farming

NPR -  As bird flu continues to infect herds of dairy cows, raw milk farmers are getting fresh scrutiny. The highly pathogenic strain of flu that's deadly to birds has spread to at least 58 herds in nine states and at least two people. USDA tests found samples of the virus in unpasteurized milk. This milk is sold and easily accessible in many parts of the country despite federal authorities advising people not to drink it. Earlier this month, NPR reporters purchased raw milk in Texas and submitted it for testing. But when the USDA-approved lab authorized to test the milk for the H5N1 bird flu virus called the farms to seek their permission to examine the milk, the farms said no.