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On April 23rd, the FDA detected pieces of dead “bird flu” virus in pasteurized dairy milk, but after additional testing, no live, infectious virus was found. The FDA says the detected viral particles were likely remnants of viruses killed during pasteurization (a process that heats and kills microbes) and the milk is safe to drink based on current evidence. The risk to humans remains low, but health officials recommend that people avoid consuming raw (unpasteurized) milk and cheese, and to properly store and cook eggs, chicken and beef.
WHAT WE KNOW
Bird flu has been found in dairy cow herds in eight states: Kansas, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas. Genetic testing of the virus shows that cows got sick from wild birds, and then spread the virus both to each other and back to wild birds. Officials think that one way the virus spread between cows was through the milking process and cows coming into contact with the raw (unpasteurized) milk from infected cows.
The virus pieces that were found in pasteurized dairy milk were dead and harmless to humans.
It is now required for dairy cows to be tested for bird flu before moving across state lines. Milk from cows showing symptoms is being destroyed while milk sold in other states is being pasteurized, and officials emphasize that pasteurization of milk kills the virus. It is still safe to drink pasteurized milk that is stored properly.
It's essential to be cautious around sick or dead animals. If you encounter sick or dead birds, please report them to USDA APHIS at 1-866-536-7593.
For hunters, especially during spring turkey season precautions should be taken when handling harvested animals like wearing rubber gloves when processing the bird and fully cooking all meat. More information on hunting and bird flu can be found here.
Bird flu is different from COVID because it currently does not spread easily from human to human. There have been two reported cases of bird flu in humans in the US, both of which were in farm workers who had direct contact with infected animals. Both people recovered completely, and the most recent case was in a Texas farmer whose main symptom was pinkeye.
UNKNOWNS
Researchers are still trying to determine how and when cows initially became infected and how the virus spreads between animals.
Because pasteurization doesn't make milk completely sterile, the FDA has done additional testing of milk from stores nationwide and is collaborating with other food safety agencies to continue monitoring the safety of the milk supply.
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YOU CAN SAY THIS...
On April 23rd, the FDA detected pieces of dead “bird flu” virus in pasteurized dairy milk, but after additional testing, no live, infectious virus was found. The FDA says the detected viral particles were likely remnants of viruses killed during pasteurization (a process that heats and kills microbes) and the milk is safe to drink based on current evidence. The risk to humans remains low, but health officials recommend that people avoid consuming raw (unpasteurized) milk and cheese, and to properly store and cook eggs, chicken and beef.
WHAT WE KNOW
Bird flu has been found in dairy cow herds in eight states: Kansas, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas. Genetic testing of the virus shows that cows got sick from wild birds, and then spread the virus both to each other and back to wild birds. Officials think that one way the virus spread between cows was through the milking process and cows coming into contact with the raw (unpasteurized) milk from infected cows.
The virus pieces that were found in pasteurized dairy milk were dead and harmless to humans.
It is now required for dairy cows to be tested for bird flu before moving across state lines. Milk from cows showing symptoms is being destroyed while milk sold in other states is being pasteurized, and officials emphasize that pasteurization of milk kills the virus. It is still safe to drink pasteurized milk that is stored properly.
It's essential to be cautious around sick or dead animals. If you encounter sick or dead birds, please report them to USDA APHIS at 1-866-536-7593.
For hunters, especially during spring turkey season precautions should be taken when handling harvested animals like wearing rubber gloves when processing the bird and fully cooking all meat. More information on hunting and bird flu can be found here.
Bird flu is different from COVID because it currently does not spread easily from human to human. There have been two reported cases of bird flu in humans in the US, both of which were in farm workers who had direct contact with infected animals. Both people recovered completely, and the most recent case was in a Texas farmer whose main symptom was pinkeye.
UNKNOWNS
Researchers are still trying to determine how and when cows initially became infected and how the virus spreads between animals.
Because pasteurization doesn't make milk completely sterile, the FDA has done additional testing of milk from stores nationwide and is collaborating with other food safety agencies to continue monitoring the safety of the milk supply.
SOURCE
HEARD IT
BELIEVABILITY
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YOU CAN SAY THIS...
On April 23rd, the FDA detected pieces of dead “bird flu” virus in pasteurized dairy milk, but after additional testing, no live, infectious virus was found. The FDA says the detected viral particles were likely remnants of viruses killed during pasteurization (a process that heats and kills microbes) and the milk is safe to drink based on current evidence. The risk to humans remains low, but health officials recommend that people avoid consuming raw (unpasteurized) milk and cheese, and to properly store and cook eggs, chicken and beef.
WHAT WE KNOW
Bird flu has been found in dairy cow herds in eight states: Kansas, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas. Genetic testing of the virus shows that cows got sick from wild birds, and then spread the virus both to each other and back to wild birds. Officials think that one way the virus spread between cows was through the milking process and cows coming into contact with the raw (unpasteurized) milk from infected cows.
The virus pieces that were found in pasteurized dairy milk were dead and harmless to humans.
It is now required for dairy cows to be tested for bird flu before moving across state lines. Milk from cows showing symptoms is being destroyed while milk sold in other states is being pasteurized, and officials emphasize that pasteurization of milk kills the virus. It is still safe to drink pasteurized milk that is stored properly.
It's essential to be cautious around sick or dead animals. If you encounter sick or dead birds, please report them to USDA APHIS at 1-866-536-7593.
For hunters, especially during spring turkey season precautions should be taken when handling harvested animals like wearing rubber gloves when processing the bird and fully cooking all meat. More information on hunting and bird flu can be found here.
Bird flu is different from COVID because it currently does not spread easily from human to human. There have been two reported cases of bird flu in humans in the US, both of which were in farm workers who had direct contact with infected animals. Both people recovered completely, and the most recent case was in a Texas farmer whose main symptom was pinkeye.
UNKNOWNS
Researchers are still trying to determine how and when cows initially became infected and how the virus spreads between animals.
Because pasteurization doesn't make milk completely sterile, the FDA has done additional testing of milk from stores nationwide and is collaborating with other food safety agencies to continue monitoring the safety of the milk supply.
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