The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has begun collecting and testing samples of aged, raw cow’s milk cheese for the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1), better known as bird flu, Food Safety News reported.

Although bird flu has been around for a while, University Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bryan Alsip said its dangers are still prevalent.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will begin collecting samples of raw cow’s milk cheese from across the U.S. to test for the presence of bird flu, spurred on by the ongoing outbreaks

Collection and testing of raw milk cheese will be done by the FDA amid outbreaks of the illness in several states.

FDA may impose measures ‘such as a recall, follow-up inspection or other possible responses to protect public health’