WASHINGTON: US health authorities announced the detection of bird flu virus fragments in the nation’s pasteurized cow milk supply during a large-scale study.
However, they reassured the public that these samples likely posed no health risk to humans.
An outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has affected dairy cattle herds countrywide and resulted in one human infection with mild symptoms. Despite the H5N1 strain’s devastating impact on poultry during the current wave, affected cows have not experienced severe illness.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) disclosed that viral particles were found in milk from affected animals, within the processing system, and on store shelves during a national survey. These samples underwent highly sensitive quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) testing, capable of detecting remnants of the pathogen’s genetic material even if the virus itself was inactivated by pasteurization heat.
The FDA emphasized the long-standing effectiveness of pasteurization in safeguarding public health, stating, “Even if the virus is detected in raw milk, pasteurization is generally expected to eliminate pathogens to a level that does not pose a risk to consumer health.”
The agency’s scientists are conducting further studies on positive samples, including “egg viability studies” to assess any active virus replication. Additionally, ongoing analyses of milk on store shelves nationwide and evaluations of various dairy product types are in progress.
Health authorities have previously advised against consuming raw milk due to the potential presence of bird flu, reinforcing the importance of proper food safety measures.
