Bird flu viral fragments found in pasteurized milk: US officials

US well being authorities stated Tuesday that they had found fragments of chicken flu virus within the nation’s pasteurized cow milk provide throughout the course of a giant examine, however the samples possible posed no well being threat to people.

An outbreak of Extremely Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has unfold amongst dairy cattle herds all through the nation and contaminated one human, who had delicate signs.

Although the H5N1 pressure of HPAI has killed hundreds of thousands of poultry throughout the present wave, affected cows haven’t fallen severely sick.

The Meals and Drug Administration stated in an announcement that throughout the course of a nationwide survey, it had found viral particles in “milk from affected animals, within the processing system, and on the cabinets.”

However the samples had been run by a extremely delicate quantitative polymerase chain response (qPCR) check, which is ready to detect remnants of the pathogen’s genetic materials even when the virus itself was inactivated by the warmth of the pasteurization course of.

“The pasteurization course of has served public well being nicely for greater than 100 years,” the company stated.

“Even when virus is detected in uncooked milk, pasteurization is mostly anticipated to eradicate pathogens to a stage that doesn’t pose a threat to shopper well being.”

The company’s scientists are working to check constructive samples additional utilizing “egg viability research.” These contain injecting an embryonated hen egg with a pattern after which seeing whether or not any energetic virus replicates.

“Further evaluation is underway of milk on retailer cabinets throughout the nation along with work to guage any potential differentiation for numerous sorts of dairy merchandise (e.g., entire milk, cream),” the FDA added.

Fowl flu was beforehand detected in uncooked milk, which well being authorities have lengthy suggested towards consuming.

© 2024 AFP