The U.S. Department of Agriculture is set to mandate bulk milk tank testing nationwide to address bird flu outbreaks in dairy herds.

In an announcement Friday, USDA said it issued a new federal order that milk samples be collected and shared with the federal agency for testing. Officials said this will facilitate comprehensive surveillance for H5N1, which has been circulating in U.S. dairy cattle since it was first detected in March. 

USDA has previously said the nation's pasteurized milk supply is safe, with the heating process killing off dangerous pathogens. But public health officials have warned against drinking raw milk, which is not pasteurized and therefore might transmit the virus.

Over 700 dairy herds across the U.S. have tested positive for bird flu across 15 states, federal data shows. The majority, over 500 herds, have been in California, the nation's largest dairy producing state.

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