1 month ago
A vertebrate flu outbreak successful U.S. dairy cows has grown to impact more than 2 twelve herds successful 8 states, conscionable weeks aft nan nation’s largest ovum shaper recovered the virus successful its chickens.
Health officials accent that nan consequence to nan nationalist is debased and that nan U.S. nutrient proviso remains safe and stable.
“At this time, location continues to beryllium nary interest that this condition poses a consequence to user health, aliases that it affects nan information of nan interstate commercialized beverage supply,” nan U.S. Food and Drug Administration said successful a statement.
Here’s what you request to cognize astir vertebrate flu and food:
WHICH STATES HAVE FOUND BIRD FLU IN DAIRY COWS?
As of Friday, nan strain of bird flu that has killed millions of chaotic birds successful caller years has been recovered successful astatine slightest 26 dairy herds successful eight U.S. states: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and South Dakota.
The virus, known arsenic Type A H5N1, has been detected successful a range of mammals complete nan past fewer years, but this is nan first clip it has been recovered successful cattle, according to national wellness and animal agencies. Genetic study of nan microorganism does not show that it has changed to dispersed much easy successful people, nan U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
HOW IS BIRD FLU AFFECTING FOOD PRODUCTION?
Agriculture officials successful at slightest 17 states person restricted imports of dairy cattle from states wherever nan microorganism has been detected, but, truthful far, authorities agencies opportunity it’s had small effect connected commercialized beverage production. Officials judge cows apt person been infected by vulnerability to chaotic birds, but said cow-to-cow dispersed “cannot beryllium ruled out.”
Farmers are testing cows that show symptoms of infection, including sharply reduced beverage proviso and lethargy. Animals that show signs aliases trial affirmative for unwellness are being separated from different animals connected nan farms. The animals look to retrieve wrong 2 weeks.
U.S. ovum producers are watching nan business intimately aft vertebrate flu was detected successful chickens successful Texas and Michigan. Millions of birds person been killed, but nan FDA said nan consequence of affected eggs getting into nan unit marketplace aliases causing infections successful humans is debased because of national inspections and different safeguards.
DOES PASTEURIZATION KILL BIRD FLU?
Scientists opportunity there’s nary grounds to propose that group tin statement nan microorganism by consuming nutrient that’s been pasteurized, aliases heat-treated — aliases decently cooked.
“It’s not a nutrient information concern,” said Lee-Ann Jaykus, an emeritus nutrient microbiologist and virologist astatine North Carolina State University.
Two group successful U.S. person been infected pinch vertebrate flu to date. A Texas dairy worker who was successful adjacent interaction pinch an infected cattle precocious developed a mild oculus infection and has recovered. In 2022, a situation inmate successful a activity programme caught it while sidesplitting infected birds astatine a Colorado poultry farm. His only denotation was fatigue, and he recovered.
IS GROCERY STORE MILK SAFE FROM BIRD FLU?
Yes, according to nutrient information experts and authorities officials.
U.S. producers are barred from trading beverage from sick cows and must divert and destruct it. In addition, beverage sold crossed authorities lines is required to beryllium pasteurized, aliases heat-treated utilizing a process that kills germs and viruses, including influenza.
“We firmly judge that pasteurization provides a safe beverage supply,” Tracey Forfa, head of nan FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine told a webinar assemblage this week.
IS RAW MILK SAFE FROM BIRD FLU?
The FDA and nan CDC are little definite astir unpasteurized, aliases raw, beverage sold successful galore states, saying there’s constricted accusation astir nan imaginable transmission of nan H5N1 microorganism successful specified products.
So far, nary herds linked to earthy beverage providers person reported cows infected pinch vertebrate flu, but nan agencies urge that nan manufacture not make aliases waste earthy beverage aliases earthy beverage food products made pinch beverage from cows that show symptoms — aliases are exposed to infected cows.
U.S. wellness officials person agelong warned against nan consequence of foodborne unwellness tied to earthy milk, which nan CDC said caused much than 200 outbreaks that sickened much than 2,600 group betwixt 1998 and 2018.
Still, earthy beverage proponents for illustration Mark McAfee, proprietor of Raw Farm USA successful Fresno, Calif., said nan outbreak of H5N1 successful commercialized cows appears to person spurred higher income of nan products, contempt national warnings.
CAN YOU CATCH BIRD FLU FROM EGGS OR MEAT?
Only dairy cows, not beef cattle, person been infected aliases shown signs of unwellness to date, agriculture officials said.
The largest ovum shaper successful nan U.S. temporarily halted operations connected April 2 aft uncovering vertebrate flu successful its chickens. Cal-Maine Foods culled astir 1.6 cardinal laying hens and different 337,000 pullets, aliases young hens, aft nan detection.
The institution said location was nary consequence to eggs successful nan marketplace and that nary eggs had been recalled.
Eggs that are handled decently and cooked thoroughly are safe to eat, said Barbara Kowalcyk, head of nan Center for Food Safety and Nutrition Security astatine George Washington University.
“A batch of group for illustration runny eggs. Personally, if I eat an egg, it’s very good cooked,” she said.
Still, Kowalcyk and others cautioned that nan business could change.
“This is an emerging rumor and intelligibly this pathogen is evolving and there’s a batch that we don’t know,” she said. “I do deliberation that everybody is trying to fig it retired arsenic quickly arsenic possible.”
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from nan Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for each content.
