The Food and Drug Administration revealed on Thursday that roughly 20% of tested examples of pasteurized milk contained traces of the bird flu virus, allowing a definite understanding of the range of its presence in the milk supply.
1 out of 5 Samples of Pasteurized Milk Has Traces of Bird Flu Virus
The tested milk was sourced from a nationally representative sample, with a higher frequency of positive results observed in regions where dairy cow herds were infected, according to the FDA. However, they did not disclose the exact number of samples tested.
As of Thursday, bird flu cases had been confirmed in 33 herds across eight states: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio, and Texas.
Following the FDA's initial announcement on Tuesday regarding the detection of viral fragments in commercially available milk, the Department of Agriculture issued a federal order mandating the testing of all dairy cows for bird flu before interstate transport.
Despite the presence of a small virus portion in milk examples, health officials highlight that pasteurized milk remains safe for intake as the discovered virus pieces are not live or infectious.
Dr. Andrew Bowman, a veterinary epidemiologist at Ohio State University, asserts the efficiency of pasteurization in rendering milk safe.
The FDA, ongoing its studies on the effect of pasteurization on the bird flu virus in milk, expects to release findings shortly.
The H5N1 strain of bird flu cautioned a concern among public health authorities due to its high death rate, with over half of infected persons surrendering to the disease, according to the CDC.
However, its limited human-to-human transmission and predominantly mild cases in the U.S. offer some reassurance, though there is a lingering worry about potential mutations that could facilitate easier spread among people.
FDA and USDA: Commercial Milk Supply Remains Safe Due to Pasteurization
Both the FDA and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reassure the public that the commercial milk supply remains secure due to pasteurization, which removes harmful bacteria and viruses, and the elimination of milk from sick cows.
The National Milk Producers Federation emphasized that the detected "viral fragments" in milk samples pose no threat to human health as they indicate the virus is inactive.
Dr. Scott Roberts, an infectious diseases assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, underscores the effectiveness of pasteurization in destroying any viable virus and advises against consuming raw milk and eggs.
Although concerns about potential pandemics like COVID-19 have heightened awareness, the response to H5N1 bird flu outbreaks in dairy cows has faced criticism.
Scientists, including Dr. Michael Worobey from the University of Arizona, have voiced concerns about the USDA's slow and incomplete data sharing, emphasizing the importance of global expert collaboration in data analysis.
The H5N1 virus, first detected in 1959, has recently been found in dairy cow herds across multiple states, with the first human case reported in Texas. However, human-to-human transmission is rare, and symptoms are typically mild.
The FDA is conducting further tests on milk samples and pledges to release results in the coming days or weeks to ensure consumer safety and provide transparent information.
