Safety Confirmed, Testing Continues
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that pasteurization effectively kills bird flu virus in milk, ensuring the safety of the commercial milk supply. This comes after preliminary tests revealed the presence of the virus in approximately 20% of retail milk samples collected nationwide.
Further investigations, including egg inoculation tests, confirmed that the virus detected in the milk was not infectious. The FDA is currently conducting additional testing on retail samples to verify these findings.
While the safety of pasteurized milk is confirmed, concerns remain regarding the potential spread of the virus through raw milk from asymptomatic or recovering cows. The FDA has tested infant and toddler formula, finding no traces of the virus. However, information on testing of other dairy products like cream remains unclear.
The USDA has reported no cases of the virus in beef cattle but has not confirmed whether retail beef products have been tested. Additionally, the possibility of dairy industry workers being exposed to the virus remains a concern.
Unlike poultry, which succumb to the virus quickly, cows typically recover within a few months. This extended illness period puts workers at an ongoing risk of exposure. The CDC recommends extended monitoring to ensure worker safety.
The outbreak has also impacted cats, with reports of widespread deaths and neurological disease around dairy farms. Officials suspect cats may have contracted the virus by consuming leftover raw milk from infected cows.
While the safety of pasteurized milk is assured, ongoing testing and monitoring are crucial to mitigate the spread of the virus and protect both workers and animals.