Commercial milk samples tested nationwide, suggesting that the outbreak is more widespread than previously thought. However, the FDA emphasises that there is no risk to human health from consuming milk with these traces of the virus.
Experts believe that the pasteurization process, which involves heating milk to kill bacteria and extend shelf life, will inactivate the virus. Additional testing is being done to confirm this.
The FDA has tested retail milk samples and found no reason to change its assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe. Although the presence of the virus in milk is concerning, it does not pose a risk to human health.
The bird flu outbreak has affected 33 dairy herds in eight US states, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Only one person, a Texas farm worker, has been confirmed to have bird flu, and they experienced mild symptoms.
The FDA continues to test milk samples to ensure the safety of the milk supply.
What is bird flu?
Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a type of flu virus that affects birds. It is usually found in wild waterbirds but can sometimes infect domesticated birds like chickens and turkeys.
History of bird flu
- 1900s: Bird flu was first identified in Italy in the early 20th century. It was a mild virus that did not cause many problems.
- 1950s-60s: The virus started to mutate and become more severe, causing outbreaks in poultry farms.
- 1990s: A new strain of bird flu, H5N1, emerged in Asia. This strain was highly contagious and deadly, spreading quickly across the globe.
- 2000s: H5N1 caused widespread outbreaks in Asia and Africa, leading to the deaths of millions of birds and some human cases.
- 2010s: New strains of bird flu emerged, including H7N9 and H5N2. These strains caused outbreaks in Asia, Europe, and North America.
- Present day: Bird flu continues to evolve and spread, with new outbreaks occurring regularly. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other global health authorities closely monitor the situation to prevent the virus from spreading to humans.
Important note: While bird flu can infect humans, it is relatively rare and usually occurs in people who have close contact with infected birds. The risk of human-to-human transmission is low, but a pandemic is still a concern if the virus mutates to become more contagious.
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