FDA Says Bird Flu Detected In 20% Of U.S. Milk Samples: Report
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed in an announcement Thursday that traces of the bird flu virus have been detected in one out of five pasteurized milk samples, shedding light on the extent of contamination within the milk supply.
NBC News reports that the FDA tested milk originated from a sample representing the nation as a whole, with a higher incidence of positive results observed in regions housing infected dairy cow herds.
The agency spokesperson, however, refrained from disclosing the exact number of samples subjected to testing.
The USDA stated Thursday that cases of bird flu had been confirmed in 33 herds across eight states, including Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio, and Texas.
Influenza virologist Richard Webby, from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, remarked that the quantity of positive samples aligns with figures he has analyzed from smaller sample pools.
Webby expressed concern in an email over the apparent discrepancy in numbers, stating, “But the number does seem high if the number of infected farms is indeed only 30-odd. Clearly there are more infected animals out there than being reported.”
The FDA initially revealed the discovery of viral fragments in commercially available milk. This revelation prompted the Agriculture Department to take action, issuing a federal order mandating that all dairy cows undergo testing for bird flu before interstate transportation.
“To date, we have seen nothing that would change our assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe,” the FDA said Tuesday.
The Vigilant Fox weighed in on the matter on X, writing, “It seems that a perfect storm is brewing as the FDA has now confirmed that commercial milk has been contaminated with remnants of bird flu (H5N1).”
He added, “Though the investigation is still ongoing, the health agency said it believes ‘the pasteurization process’ and ‘the diversion or destruction of milk from sick cows’ likely ensures that the ‘commercial milk supply is safe.’”
“Now, before you take the FDA’s word, remember that they also said that the C19 shots are also ‘safe and effective,’ the account continues. “While pasteurization is believed to inactivate the bird flu virus, the FDA admits that it doesn’t get rid of viral particles.”
He concluded, “ … as bird flu concerns loom, the World Health Organization’s Pandemic Treaty is expected to be voted on during this year’s World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, starting on May 27, 2024.”
The agency is currently engaged in studies investigating the impact of pasteurization on the bird flu virus present in milk and anticipates unveiling the findings in the forthcoming days.
NBC reports that health officials emphasized, with concurrence from experts, the safety of pasteurized milk for consumption. Notably the FDA’s detection of viral fragments in milk pertained to small pieces of the virus, not live, infectious virus particles.
Public health officials are closely monitoring the virus, identified as a strain of bird flu known as H5N1, due to its alarming fatality rate.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that over half of individuals afflicted with the illness have succumbed to it.
The virus does not readily transmit among individuals, according to the CDC, and although it can result in severe illness, the only two cases documented in the U.S. have been mild.
The apprehension from health officials lies in the potential for the virus to undergo mutation, potentially enhancing its ability to spread among humans.
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