Bird Flu Virus Found in One-Fifth of U.S. Pasteurized Milk Samples: FDA

One in five samples of pasteurized milk tested across various parts of the United States were found to contain remnants of bird flu virus, according to a study conducted by U.S public health officials. The results from what is called “a nationally representative commercial milk sampling” showed that an elevated number of positive cases was discovered in areas with infected herds, as reported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This announcement comes almost a month after bird flu virus had been detected for the first time ever among dairy cows. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that human infection can occur when viruses enter eyes, nose or mouths of individuals or are inhaled into their bodies while working with infected birds.
As it is presently consumed worldwide due to heat sterilisation via the process of pasteurization (a treatment technique applied for a predefined amount at particular temperature) during its manufacture; experts claim that the detection could potentially lead consumers to raise eyebrows as the discovery might imply traces or particles, possibly containing remnants of active viruses. However, officials from FDA have maintained their stance and claimed that it is still safe to drink milk sold in grocery stores despite the recent findings since pasteurization eliminates bacteria and viruses by heating milk up for a certain amount of time at specific temperatures which kill them all.
According to Nam Tran, professor and senior director of clinical pathology at UC Davis Health, qPCR tests used during these studies detect genetic material rather than the entire active or infectious virus that could potentially cause infection in humans. He further explained that fragments from viruses detected through such methods might not necessarily be indicative of live, viable bird flu strains present within milk samples sold at grocery stores.
The FDA is currently performing egg-inoculation tests to determine whether any active or infectious virus still exists in these food products. As mentioned by Nam Tran, this test method takes longer than other less sensitive methods and involves injecting the sample into an unfertilized chicken’s eggs for incubation; if the virus reproduces within such environments, it could be a sign of viable active strains potentially infectious to humans through contact.
Bird flu has so far affected 33 dairy farms across eight U.S states- Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas since detection earlier this month, reports the FDA in their statement. They further claim that only lactating cows have been infected with bird flu virus so far; no such symptoms or signs of infection were detected among beef cattle till date according to agricultural officials’ accounts on current outbreaks related to birds and animals within those farms’ boundaries where the initial breakout had occurred recently.
The largest egg producer in America, Cal-Maine Foods has temporarily suspended operations at its facilities after discovering bird flu virus inside chicken stocks that it keeps for breeding purposes. The company announced a cull of approximately 1.6 million laying hens and another 337000 young chickens (pullets) in response to the detection; they have however claimed no risks are posed by eggs already sold, as reported earlier this week.
The USDA has stated that poultry products cooked properly present little risk for bird flu transmission because such items can be sterilized through proper processing and cooking techniques. “Proper food safety practices are important every day,” the department said in a statement released to media outlets on Thursday, April 21st.