Bird flu has been popping up in headlines for months. And you could have heard that the virus has been detected in dairy cows in eight states: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio and Texas.
Now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is sharing that traces of hen flu have been detected in commercially-available milk.
The FDA made the announcement in an update on extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, aka hen flu or H5N1). In the update, officers shared that there was inactivated genetic materials from the virus detected in milk that’s bought in shops. Meaning, the virus is there, however it’s lifeless.
The information comes simply weeks after public well being authorities revealed {that a} person in Texas contracted bird flu from a cow. Bird flu will not be frequent in folks and has solely been detected twice within the U.S., however it may be lethal, based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the U.S., instances have at all times been gentle.
Meet the Experts: Darin Detwiler, LPD, is an affiliate educating professor of meals coverage at Northeastern University and creator of Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions. William Schaffner, MD, is an infectious illness specialist and professor on the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Mohamed Zeyada Satti, PhD, assistant professor within the Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology on the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University.
If you’re instantly giving that container of milk in your fridge the side-eye, specialists say there’s no must panic. Here’s why.
Is pasteurized milk secure to drink?
Pasteurization is a technique of heating milk to a high-enough temperature for a long-enough time to kill dangerous germs, the CDC explains. Milk that’s bought in shops is required to be pasteurized, based on FDA regulations. So, the milk you purchase is very prone to be pasteurized.
“Pasteurized milk is indeed safe to drink,” says Darin Detwiler, LPD, an affiliate educating professor of meals coverage at Northeastern University and creator of Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions. “At this time, there is no evidence that H5N1 bird flu virus can survive the pasteurization process. Therefore, consumers can feel confident about the safety of pasteurized milk.”
Milk from cows which were discovered to be contaminated can also be destroyed, and herds are recurrently being examined over hen flu issues, factors out William Schaffner, MD, an infectious illness specialist and professor on the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
If you reside in a state the place hen flu has been detected in cows, don’t fret. “There isn’t any threat in consuming dairy product in these states,” says Mohamed Zeyada Satti, PhD, assistant professor within the Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology on the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University.
Is unpasteurized milk secure to drink?
Unpasteurized milk, aka “raw” milk, is a unique story. This milk doesn’t undergo the pasteurization course of. “Therefore, it can pose a higher risk of containing various pathogens, including bacteria and viruses,” Detwiler says. “While there is no current evidence directly linking raw milk with H5N1 transmission, the general lack of pasteurization increases the risk of harboring infectious agents.”
FWIW, uncooked milk is labeled as a “public health concern” by the CDC.
Which states have hen flu in milk?
So far, hen flu has been detected in dairy cows in eight states, based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Michigan
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- South Dakota
- Ohio
- Texas
As a consequence, the USDA is ordering dairy cows to be examined for hen flu earlier than they are often moved between state traces.
Are eggs secure from hen flu?
In common, sure. “Eggs are considered safe from bird flu as long as they are properly handled and cooked,” Detwiler says. “H5N1, like other viruses, is sensitive to heat.”
Cook eggs till the yolk and white are agency to make it possible for any viruses that might be within the eggs are inactivated, he says. “Consumers should also practice good kitchen hygiene, such as washing hands and surfaces that have come into contact with raw eggs,” Detwiler says.
What else ought to I find out about hen flu?
Detwiler stresses that it’s unlikely you’ll get hen flu from eggs or milk. “Bird flu is primarily spread through direct contact with infected birds, and it is not typically transmitted through the consumption of properly cooked poultry or eggs,” he says.
Schaffner agrees. “There’s no need to panic or avoid milk, dairy products, and eggs,” he says. Still, he provides that it’s “good to be informed and, as new information develops, be open to new messages from public health.”
Korin Miller is a contract author specializing usually wellness, sexual well being and relationships, and way of life tendencies, with work showing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and extra. She has a grasp’s diploma from American University, lives by the seaside, and hopes to personal a teacup pig and taco truck in the future.
