The virus has spread to cows in many states -bloggerheart

Janet Buffer, with the Institute for Food and Policy Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University in Washington, DC, said consumers do not need to be concerned about avian flu virus or other viruses or bacteria when consuming pasteurized milk and milk products made from pasteurized milk.

“Milk that enters the food system is tested and pasteurized to ensure it is safe for human consumption,” Buffer told Healthline. Pasteurization kills any viruses, bacteria or other microbes present in milk, without altering its taste, appearance or nutritional value.

Additionally, milk from sick cows is shipped elsewhere or destroyed so it cannot enter the food supply, the USDA wrote.

“The concern arises when raw milk is purchased and consumed,” Buffer said.

The sale of raw milk, also known as unpasteurized milk, is Regulated by each state, Many states have declared the sale of raw milk illegal, but other states allow its sale with conditions.

raw milk It may contain dangerous bacteria or other harmful germs like Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria and Campylobacter. Raw milk is especially dangerous for children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weak immune systems.

The USDA said in its release that federal and state agencies are conducting additional testing, including viral genome testing. This will provide a better understanding of which types or strains of bird flu viruses are involved in these cases.

Initial genetic testing by National Veterinary Services laboratories found no changes in the virus that could make it spread more easily among people. “(This) would indicate that the current risk to the public is low,” the USDA wrote.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) said in a report on March 25 that this is the first time HPAI has been found in dairy cattle and only the second time it has been found in ruminants. Press release,

Ruminants are animals that chew their cud, and include cattle, goats, and sheep.

“The first detection of HPAI in dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas highlights the importance of following biosecurity measures, being vigilant in monitoring the disease, and involving your veterinarian immediately if something seems ‘abnormal,’” said AMVA President Dr. Rena Carlson. Underlines.” release.

The USDA wrote in its release that among dairies whose herds are showing symptoms, on average about 10% of each affected herd is affected. Very few or no cows have died due to their infection.

Additionally, the department wrote, “Milk losses from symptomatic cattle to date have been too limited to have a major impact on supply, and should not have any impact on the price of milk or other dairy products.”

bird flu It is a disease in birds caused by infection with avian influenza type A virus. These viruses are found naturally in wild aquatic birds but can infect domestic poultry such as chickens.

Avian influenza type A viruses are classified into two categories:

• Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI): The most common type, and shows no signs of illness or mild illness in chickens and other domestic poultry.
• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI): Can cause severe disease and high mortality in infected poultry.

Some bird flu viruses can also spread domestic animals Such as cats and dogs, as well as wild mammals.

bird flu virus generally do not infect people, but may occur in rare cases. Infection in people can range from asymptomatic or mild illness to severe illness that can result in death. The bird flu viruses responsible for the most infections in people have been H7N9 and H5N1.

“The transfer of viruses from one species to another should always be a matter of concern,” darrin detwileran associate teaching professor at Northeastern University and food safety advocate told Healthline.

“This 'flu' has caused the death of large numbers of birds and impacted the availability and cost of food.”

From 2019 to 2022, global avian flu outbreaks are expected to result in the loss of 40 million domestic birds and an economic cost of $2.5 to $3 billion, according to an industry report from the nonprofit group. Neutral,

While pasteurization protects consumers from harmful pathogens entering milk and milk products, Buffer said people should remain diligent around domestic farm animals or wild animals. This will reduce the risk of getting sick from any diseases carried by those animals.

“If choosing to interact with animals such as cows, chickens, sheep and goats, always avoid touching your face with your hands, especially your eyes, nose and mouth,” she said, “and always wash your hands after coming in contact with them.” Wash. Animals and their environment.”

symptoms Bird flu infections in people include:

• Eye redness (conjunctivitis)
• mild flu-like upper respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, and runny or stuffy nose
• pneumonia
• Fever
• muscle or body pain
• Headache
• Tiredness
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Milk samples from sick cattle at two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, aka “bird flu” virus. A cow at another dairy in Texas also tested positive.

USDA officials said there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply due to the disease in cattle. Milk from affected animals is diverted or destroyed to keep it out of the food supply. The milk is also pasteurized, which kills any viruses, bacteria or other germs.

Bird flu viruses are found naturally in wild aquatic birds, but can infect domestic chickens and other poultry. These viruses can also infect mammals, including domestic dogs and cats. In rare cases, people can become infected, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe.