Bird flu outbreak in US raises food safety fears
The United States is currently battling a bird flu outbreak that has affected numerous dairy cow herds across eight states. The H5N1 bird flu virus strain, recently detected in chickens owned by the country's largest egg producer, has been found in raw milk from infected animals. The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern over the virus's survival duration in milk and its spread among several mammal species, including domestic cattle. Here's what we know about it.
Human infection and food supply safety amid outbreak
Earlier, a dairy worker in Texas had tested positive for bird flu—after exposure to cattle believed to be carriers—indicating an "extraordinarily high" mortality rate in humans. Despite this, experts maintain that the US food supply remains safe and stable. The US Food and Drug Administration reassured consumers stating, "At this time, there continues to be no concern that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health, or that it affects the safety of the interstate commercial milk supply."
Bird flu detected in dairy herds across eight states
Notably, the bird flu strain responsible for killing millions of wild birds has been detected in at least 26 dairy herds across eight US states: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and South Dakota. This is a first-time occurrence according to federal health and animal agencies. In response to the outbreak, agriculture officials have limited imports of dairy cattle from affected states.
Pasteurization ensures safe milk supply amid bird flu outbreak
US producers have also been prohibited from selling milk from sick cows and must discard it. Milk sold across state lines is required to be pasteurized. "We firmly believe that pasteurization provides a safe milk supply," said Tracey Forfa, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. The FDA and CDC have expressed uncertainty about unpasteurized or raw milk sold in many states due to limited information about possible transmission of the H5N1 virus in such products.
Bird flu impact on US egg producers and consumers
US egg producers are closely monitoring the situation after bird flu was detected in chickens in Texas and Michigan. Despite millions of birds being culled, the FDA maintains that the risk of affected eggs reaching consumers or causing infections in humans is low due to federal inspections and safeguards. Scientists reassure that there's no evidence to suggest that people can contract the virus by consuming food that's been pasteurized, heat-treated, or properly cooked.
Measures taken to contain bird flu among cattle
Officials suspect cows have been infected through exposure to wild birds, but cow-to-cow transmission has not been ruled out. Farmers are now testing cows showing signs of infection such as reduced milk supply and lethargy. Infected animals are being isolated from healthy ones on the farms, and these animals appear to recover within two weeks.
Bird flu infections and recovery in humans
So far, two people in the US have been infected with bird flu. A Texas dairy worker developed a mild eye infection after close contact with an infected cow but has since recovered. In 2022, a prison inmate contracted the virus while handling infected birds at a Colorado poultry farm; his only symptom was fatigue, and he has since recovered.
