Traces of the bird flu virus were detected in samples of pasteurized milk in the United States on Tuesday, prompting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to advise that the milk remains safe for consumption until further testing is completed.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), avian influenza, or bird flu, is a disease caused by infection with avian influenza Type A viruses. These viruses are naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.
The FDA stated that traces of the virus were found while testing pasteurized milk samples using PCR testing, which detects genetic material. The samples contained inactive remnants of the bird flu virus, which had been killed during the pasteurization process. However, the FDA emphasized that a positive result does not indicate the presence of a live, infectious virus.
“Based on available information, pasteurization is likely to inactivate the virus, however the process is not expected to remove the presence of viral particles. To date, we have seen nothing that would change our assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe,” the agency said in a statement.
The FDA also stated that it is conducting additional testing on egg and milk production to ensure the safety of these products. Results from ongoing safety studies are expected to be released in the “next few days to weeks.”
This announcement comes after a positive human case of avian flu was identified at a Texas dairy farm. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported that the infected individual had direct exposure to dairy cattle presumed to be infected with the virus. The patient experienced eye inflammation as their only symptom and is being treated with the antiviral drug oseltamivir.
While this is only the second human case of H5N1 ever recorded in the United States, there is no current evidence to suggest that the virus is spreading among humans. However, the case has raised concerns about the milk supply from cows.
Rick Bright, former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), has previously warned that avian flu poses a serious threat, expressing concern that it could become transmissible between humans.
“They would have to do a lot of testing before I would drink milk from one of these farms at this point,” Bright said earlier this month.
The FDA has previously stated that there is “no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply” due to pasteurization, which heats milk to a temperature that would kill the virus. In addition to pasteurization, dairy farms are required by law to only supply milk from healthy animals.
The FDA also recommends that milk producers take precautions when discarding milk from sick cows to prevent it from becoming a source of spread.
This news has sparked discussions about the importance of food safety and the potential risks associated with animal-borne diseases.
