Pasteurised Milk! Additional tests on milk have demonstrated that pasteurization effectively eliminates the bird flu virus, according to federal health officials. This announcement comes as Colorado becomes the ninth U.S. state to confirm an infected dairy herd.
Federal lawmakers are pressing the Biden administration to take more aggressive measures to contain the spread of the virus. Tests revealed remnants of the virus in one out of every five commercial milk samples, indicating a wider outbreak than previously realized.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that milking cows in Colorado tested positive for the virus, joining other states including Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, Idaho, New Mexico, North Carolina, and South Dakota.
Pressure from Congress members is mounting on federal agricultural and health authorities to determine the spread and potential risks of the H5N1 virus to humans, especially after its initial detection in a Texas dairy herd a month ago.
Pasteurised Milk!
Analysis of USDA data by a University of Arizona scientist suggests that the H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle is more extensive than the officially reported 34 herds in nine states.
Republican U.S. Senator Mitt Romney emphasized the urgency of containing the virus before it infects humans, criticizing the federal response as inadequate, drawing parallels to lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Romney and other lawmakers are advocating for the reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act, which expired last year and aims to enhance the nation’s response to pandemics and other public health threats, citing the recent bird flu spread and the detection of H5N1 genetic material in milk as reasons for action.
Pasteurised Milk!
Dr. Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist from the University of Arizona, noted significant differences between the human case virus and the bird flu virus found in infected cattle, suggesting a widespread, long-standing epidemic.
Dr. Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, highlighted the complexity of the situation, stating that the available genetic sequences may not fully represent the circulating viruses.
A CDC spokesperson confirmed subtle genetic changes in flu viruses during host-to-host transmission and indicated that the virus likely originated from birds, transmitted to cows, and then to humans.
The presence of traces of the H5N1 virus in commercial milk samples is certainly concerning, but it’s crucial to understand the context provided by experts and officials. The FDA’s reassurance that there’s no immediate risk to human health from the virus in milk is comforting. However, the fact that the virus seems widespread among dairy cattle indicates a need for vigilance and further investigation.
It’s encouraging that experts like Dr. Michael Osterholm emphasize the importance of increased sampling, not only in dairy cattle but also in other livestock such as beef cattle and pigs. This broader approach to monitoring can help in understanding the extent of the virus’s presence and in implementing targeted preventive measures.
The proactive steps being taken, such as the USDA’s requirement for dairy cows to test negative before interstate movement and the consideration of potential restrictions by states like Indiana, demonstrate a commitment to containment and prevention.
Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s call for additional resources in states with the opportunity to prevent the disease from entering herds highlights the importance of swift and coordinated action at both federal and state levels.
Overall, while the presence of the virus in milk samples raises concerns, the response from authorities and experts suggests a proactive stance aimed at safeguarding both animal and human health.
