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traces of Avian influenza It has been detected in pasteurized milk, leading many to wonder if it is safe to drink.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Thursday that one in five retail samples of commercial milk have tested positive for fragments of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as avian influenza or avian influenza. Announced a notice.
In areas where herds of cattle were infected, a higher proportion of milk contained virus remnants.
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However, the FDA noted that just because the virus is present in milk does not necessarily mean there is a risk to consumers.
“Additional testing is required to determine whether intact pathogens are still present and whether they remain infectious, which will determine whether there is a risk of illness associated with consumption of the product.” “It will help us do that,” the official said.
Traces of bird flu have been detected in pasteurized milk, leaving many people wondering if it’s safe to drink. (St. Petersburg)
“nevertheless avian influenza virus “It is not usually contagious to humans, but sporadic human infections have occurred,” the FDA said in its warning.
Experts say pasteurization eliminates the risk
Before milk can be sold commercially, government regulations require it to be pasteurized.
According to the International Dairy Products Association (IDFA) website, during the pasteurization process, raw milk is heated to a certain temperature for a short period of time and then cooled again.
This process kills any pathogens and makes the milk safe to drink.
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Dr. Scott Pegan, a biomedical professor at the University of California, Riverside and a biochemist at the National Institute for Chemical Defense Medicine, said the FDA’s findings do not mean there is a direct risk to consumers. .
“In the United States, milk sold commercially within the states is required to be pasteurized,” he told Fox News Digital. “This process is aimed at killing viruses such as H5N1 and other bacteria that can pose a threat to human health.”
Exhibiting milk sterilization systems at food and beverage exhibitions. Pasteurization is a process that kills microorganisms in foods and beverages such as milk, juice, and canned foods. (St. Petersburg)
“Pasteurized milk is safe, and based on FDA findings, there is currently no reason to avoid pasteurized milk or other pasteurized milk products,” Pagan continued.
“However, there are significant risks to consuming unpasteurized milk and milk products.”
Even after that viruses and bacteria If the animal dies in pasteurized milk, its remains may remain in the milk, but it is not dangerous, he said.
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Dr. Edward Liu, director of infectious diseases at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, agreed there are no risks associated with drinking pasteurized milk.
“Pasteurization is the key. The heat treatment kills the virus,” he told Fox News Digital. “Although FDA testing detected fragments, [of the virus]It cannot infect humans because it has been destroyed by the heating process. ”
In areas where herds of cattle were infected, a higher proportion of milk contained virus remnants. (St. Petersburg)
Fragment alone is not sufficient to cause all kinds of infectionshe confirmed.
“I think the key word is ‘fragment.’ Just like with the new coronavirus, if you do a PCR test a month later, small fragments of the virus will be detected, but the virus is no longer active,” Liu said. said.
“So unless the virus is completely intact, it shouldn’t be able to infect people.”
Sporadic cases of human infection are likely to occur when farmers work directly with birds, Liu said.
The FDA said consumers should avoid drinking unpasteurized raw milk.
“Some people prefer something completely natural, but pasteurization has been used for decades to be safe,” he said. “Some degree of processing is actually better and safer for us.”
Animals pose greater concern, experts say
“Indirect concerns” in scientific and scientific fields medical world This increases the risk of “spillover” from animals carrying the H5N1 virus to humans, Pegan said.
“in front Occurrence in dairy cowsthis concern primarily revolved around the risk of transmission from wild birds and poultry to humans,” he told FOX News Digital.
The scientific and medical community’s “indirect concerns” include the increased risk of “spillover” from animals carrying the H5N1 virus to humans, one expert said. (Reuters/Dado Ruvik/Illustration/File photo)
“The presence of H5N1 avian influenza in the milk of these cows indicates that cows are a potential new reservoir for this virus, and that people who have had direct contact with infected cows may be exposed. ”
The more animals that become infected, the more likely it is that humans will come into direct contact with the virus, and as a result, the number of human cases will also likely increase, Pegan said.
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“The cases of cattle-to-human transmission seen in Texas are consistent with this concern,” he noted.
“Also, the more mammals it infects, the more likely the virus will adapt to other mammals, such as humans.”
FDA recommendations
The FDA reiterated its “longstanding recommendation” that consumers avoid consuming unpasteurized raw milk.
The agency also recommends that companies refrain from producing or selling raw milk or milk products made from milk from cows that have tested positive for avian influenza, been exposed to the virus, or are confirmed to be infected. We recommend that you do so. symptoms of illness.
“Consumer demand for these unpasteurized products has increased in recent years,” Pegan said.
The FDA reiterated its “longstanding recommendation” that consumers avoid consuming unpasteurized raw milk. (St. Petersburg)
“Although sales through interstate brands are not permitted, some states have relaxed local sales of these products at farmers markets and similar outlets,” he said.
“Until more information is available about this outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cattle, individuals may wish to avoid these unpasteurized products.”
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The FDA also urged producers to “take precautions” when discarding milk from affected cows “to ensure that discarded milk does not become a source of further spread.”
The FDA said so far only one person has been confirmed to have contracted the virus after coming into contact with infected cattle.
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“The CDC states the risk to the general public remains low,” the agency said.
“FDA and USDA continue to demonstrate that our commercial milk supply is safe based on the information we currently have.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the National Milk Producers Federation, the American Dairy Council and the International Dairy Council for comment.
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