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Avian influenza has been present in U.S. milk, and dairy lovers are understandably involved. So a lot in order that Google searches for “can you get bird flu from eggs and milk?” have spiked because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shared an update relating to avian influenza.
If you are not but caught up, the FDA updated consumers on the fowl flu—or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)—on April 25, revealing that one in 5 of retail samples, which suggests roughly 20% of of milk samples available at locations like grocery shops, have examined constructive for HPAI “viral fragments.”
Seeing as we’re barely out of the woods of our last pandemic, this info can appear fairly troubling, to say the least. However, regardless of what some sensationalist headlines and information shops may declare, the FDA clarified that these constructive outcomes “don’t essentially signify precise virus that could be a threat to customers.”
What’s extra, each the FDA and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) assert that retail dairy doesn’t presently pose a threat, writing: “Based on the information we currently have, our commercial milk supply is safe because of both the pasteurization process and that milk from sick cows is being diverted or destroyed.”
Still, it’s understandable if you’re concerned about the milk supply and eggs. To help shed some light on the situation, Glamour asked a virologist and bird veterinarian all of our avian influenza FAQs, like: Can you get bird flu from eggs and milk? Here’s what they have to say.
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What’s happening with the bird flu right now?
“An influenza virus we call H5N1 has been infecting wild birds for several years and recently has been found in poultry, wild mammals, and sea mammals,” Andrew Pekosz, PhD, virologist and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, tells Glamour. “In March, it was detected in dairy cattle in the U.S.” The virus was present in cow herds in Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas.
In cows, the signs of H5N1 embrace decreased lactation and low urge for food, in accordance with the FDA. In people, reported indicators and signs can vary from no signs to gentle sickness—assume: conjunctivitis and/or flu-like respiratory signs—to extra extreme ones like pneumonia warranting hospitalization, in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Others embrace fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nostril, muscle and physique aches, headaches, and fatigue, per the CDC.
Is fowl flu harmful to people?
“It is dangerous because infection is associated with severe disease in poultry and mammals, including humans,” Pekosz says, but it’s important to note how people get it in the first place. It doesn’t really apply to people who don’t live or work with birds. “Mammals and humans get infected [with H5N1] by coming in contact with dead infected birds,” Pekosz explains, although he notes that the virus hasn’t been discovered to unfold effectively between mammals or people except few particular situations.
Very few, actually: There have been lower than 1,000 recognized instances since 1997 throughout the complete world, per the CDC. Translation? It’s extraordinarily uncommon for individuals to contract avian influenza.
That stated, Daisy May, MRCVS, BVSc, a veterinary surgeon specializing in small animals and birds who covers pet care at All About Parrots, stresses the significance of stringently adhering to established meals security finest practices regardless. “Both the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) maintain that no evidence exists linking human infections to properly cooked poultry or pasteurized dairy products, but they are emphatically stressing that stringently adhering to established food safety best practices is our foremost preventive measure,” she says.
Of course, health experts always recommend properly cooking meat, consuming pasteurized dairy, and practicing basic food safety guidelines, whether or not there’s a bird flu outbreak.
How could this impact milk?
“Some of the H5N1 infections are making cows sick and reducing milk production, but this hasn’t affected total milk production so far,” says Pekosz. “It’s not clear if contaminated dairy cows that do not have signs have virus of their milk, however items of H5N1 have been detected in industrial milk, [leading] many individuals assume the issue is bigger than we consider it’s.”
Is ingesting milk nonetheless “protected?”
“Pasteurized milk should still be safe to drink but the US FDA and other agencies are continuing to monitor this,” says Pekosz. “The pasteurization course of can kill viruses much like H5N1 and exams are underway utilizing the [current] cattle virus to verify this.
If you are involved within the meantime, you’ll be able to briefly switch to non-dairy milk.
What about eggs?
Eggs are okay, too. “When H5N1 gets into domesticated poultry like egg laying chickens, the animals die quickly and eggs produced are taken out of circulation,” Pekosz explains, noting that there’s presently no proof of H5N1 in industrial eggs. “As with unpasteurized milk, there are other things in undercooked or raw eggs that can be dangerous to people. Salmonella is one example.”
May says the identical: “The likelihood of food-borne transmission remains low when proper food handling protocols are meticulously followed.”
Will this impact grocery prices?
“Milk prices and production could be affected if widespread infection of cows is detected,” says Pekosz. “The situation is changing on a daily basis, but the US FDA is providing frequent and detailed updates on the situation.”
Bird flu has briefly elevated egg costs prior to now, in accordance with knowledge from the USDA. In 2022, throughout which there have been a number of flu outbreaks impacting egg-laying hens, U.S. egg inventories decreased by 29%. This greater than doubled the half common value of eggs by December of that yr, however costs returned to regular as quickly as egg-laying flocks and stock improved.
What must you do in the event you dwell or work with birds?
“I’m urging pet owners, agricultural workers, and everyone to escalate precautions in accordance with all local, state, and federal advisories from animal health authorities,” says May. “Depending on the situation, that could mean avoiding any raw or undercooked poultry and egg products, coupled with heightened safeguarding when handling uncooked meat, poultry, or other foods of animal origin.”
What’s extra, though sustained human-to-human transmission is presently contained, “this H5N1 strain demands we remain vigilant for any escalation of that risk,” May says. “Those in close contact with infected poultry or livestock must adhere to prescribed biosecurity protocols. For pet bird owners, that means stringent hand-washing, properly containing feathers and droppings, and separating your birds from other domestic flocks. Agricultural operations need to reinforce rigorous facility disinfection, personal protective equipment, and all other preventive measures.”
TL;DR?
“Scientists are concerned about H5N1 spread in dairy cows as it might lead to adaption of the virus for better infection of humans,” says Pekosz. “For the general public, pasteurized eggs and milk are safe when it comes to H5N1 and the situation is being monitored closely.”
Finally, May reiterates the significance of avoiding any uncooked or undercooked poultry and egg merchandise, and practising safeguarding when dealing with any raw meat, poultry, or different meals of animal origin—which is a good suggestion whether or not you are nervous in regards to the fowl flu or not.
Danielle Sinay is the affiliate magnificence editor at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @daniellesinay.
Originally Appeared on Glamour
