An outbreak of bird flu has been detected in at least 26 dairy herds in eight states in the U.S., just weeks after the largest egg producer in the country found the virus in its chickens. Despite this, health officials emphasize that the risk to the public remains low and that the U.S. food supply is still safe and stable. The virus, known as Type A H5N1, has been found primarily in dairy cows, with government agencies taking measures to contain the spread of the virus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has assured consumers that there is no concern for consumer health or the safety of the interstate commercial milk supply.
The bird flu outbreak has not had a significant impact on commercial milk production, as government agencies and farmers are closely monitoring infected cows and taking necessary precautions. It is believed that the virus was likely transmitted to cows through exposure to wild birds, but the exact mode of transmission is still under investigation. Despite the infection being primarily limited to dairy cows, U.S. egg producers are closely monitoring the situation after detecting the virus in chickens in Texas and Michigan. However, the FDA has stated that there is a low risk of affected eggs entering the retail market or causing infections in humans due to federal inspections and other safeguards.
Pasteurization, a heat treatment process used to kill bacteria and viruses, including influenza, is considered effective in eliminating the bird flu virus from milk. Consuming properly pasteurized or cooked food is not a concern for food safety, according to experts. Even in cases where two people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu, their symptoms were mild, and they have since recovered. Grocery store milk is considered safe from bird flu, as sick cows are not allowed to be included in the production process and stringent regulations ensure the safety of milk supply across state lines.
Raw milk poses a potential risk of transmitting the bird flu virus, as there is limited information on the transmission of the H5N1 virus in such products. Despite no reported cases of cow infection linked to raw milk providers, federal agencies recommend against the production and sale of raw milk products from cows showing symptoms of infection or have been exposed to infected cows. Health officials have issued warnings against the consumption of raw milk due to the risk of foodborne illnesses, which have caused numerous outbreaks in the past.
While only dairy cows have been infected with bird flu, beef cattle have not shown any signs of illness. The largest egg producer in the U.S., Cal-Maine Foods, had to temporarily halt operations and cull millions of laying hens and pullets after detecting the virus in its chickens. However, there has been no recall of eggs in the market, and properly handled and cooked eggs are still considered safe to eat according to experts. Despite the evolving nature of the situation, efforts are being made to understand and address the issue as quickly as possible to ensure the safety of the food supply.
