A chicken flu outbreak in US dairy cows has grown to have an effect on greater than two dozen herds in eight states, simply weeks after the nation’s largest egg producer discovered the virus in its chickens.
Well being officers stress that the chance to the general public is low and that the US meals provide stays protected and secure.
“Right now, there continues to be no concern that this circumstance poses a threat to shopper well being, or that it impacts the protection of the interstate business milk provide,” the US Meals and Drug Administration mentioned in an announcement.
Right here’s what you’ll want to learn about chicken flu and meals:
WHICH STATES HAVE FOUND BIRD FLU IN DAIRY COWS?As of Friday, the pressure of chicken flu that has killed hundreds of thousands of untamed birds lately has been present in at the least 26 dairy herds in eight US states: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and South Dakota.
The virus, often called Sort A H5N1, has been detected in a variety of mammals over the previous few years, however that is the primary time it has been present in cattle, in accordance with federal well being and animal businesses. Genetic evaluation of the virus doesn’t present that it has modified to unfold extra simply in folks, the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention mentioned.
HOW IS BIRD FLU AFFECTING FOOD PRODUCTION?Agriculture officers in at the least 17 states have restricted imports of dairy cattle from states the place the virus has been detected, however, to date, authorities businesses say it’s had little impact on business milk manufacturing. Officers consider cows possible have been contaminated by publicity to wild birds, however mentioned cow-to-cow unfold “can’t be dominated out.”
Farmers are testing cows that present signs of an infection, together with sharply diminished milk provide and lethargy. Animals that present indicators or take a look at optimistic for sickness are being separated from different animals on the farms. The animals seem to recuperate inside two weeks.
US egg producers are watching the scenario carefully after chicken flu was detected in chickens in Texas and Michigan. Hundreds of thousands of birds have been killed, however the FDA mentioned the chance of affected eggs moving into the retail market or inflicting infections in people is low due to federal inspections and different safeguards.
DOES PASTEURIZATION KILL BIRD FLU?Scientists say there’s no proof to recommend that folks can contract the virus by consuming meals that’s been pasteurized, or heat-treated — or correctly cooked.
“It’s not a meals security concern,” mentioned Lee-Ann Jaykus, an emeritus meals microbiologist and virologist at North Carolina State College.
Two folks in US have been contaminated with chicken flu thus far. A Texas dairy employee who was in shut contact with an contaminated cow just lately developed a light eye an infection and has recovered. In 2022, a jail inmate in a piece program caught it whereas killing contaminated birds at a Colorado poultry farm. His solely symptom was fatigue, and he recovered.
IS GROCERY STORE MILK SAFE FROM BIRD FLU?Sure, in accordance with meals security consultants and authorities officers.
US producers are barred from promoting milk from sick cows and should divert and destroy it. As well as, milk offered throughout state traces is required to be pasteurized, or heat-treated utilizing a course of that kills micro organism and viruses, together with influenza.
“We firmly consider that pasteurization gives a protected milk provide,” Tracey Forfa, director of the FDA’s Middle for Veterinary Drugs informed a webinar viewers this week.
IS RAW MILK SAFE FROM BIRD FLU?The FDA and the CDC are much less sure about unpasteurized, or uncooked, milk offered in lots of states, saying there’s restricted details about the potential transmission of the H5N1 virus in such merchandise.
To date, no herds linked to uncooked milk suppliers have reported cows contaminated with chicken flu, however the businesses advocate that the trade not make or promote uncooked milk or uncooked milk cheese merchandise made with milk from cows that present signs — or are uncovered to contaminated cows.
US well being officers have lengthy warned in opposition to the chance of foodborne sickness tied to uncooked milk, which the CDC mentioned brought about greater than 200 outbreaks that sickened greater than 2,600 folks between 1998 and 2018.
Nonetheless, uncooked milk proponents like Mark McAfee, proprietor of Uncooked Farm USA in Fresno, Calif., mentioned the outbreak of H5N1 in business cows seems to have spurred larger gross sales of the merchandise, regardless of federal warnings.
CAN YOU CATCH BIRD FLU FROM EGGS OR MEAT?Solely dairy cows, not beef cattle, have been contaminated or proven indicators of sickness thus far, agriculture officers mentioned.
The most important egg producer within the US quickly halted operations on April 2 after discovering chicken flu in its chickens. Cal-Maine Meals culled about 1.6 million laying hens and one other 337,000 pullets, or younger hens, after the detection.
The corporate mentioned there was no threat to eggs out there and that no eggs had been recalled.
Eggs which might be dealt with correctly and cooked totally are suitable for eating, mentioned Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Middle for Meals Security and Diet Safety at George Washington College.
“Lots of people like runny eggs. Personally, if I eat an egg, it’s very properly cooked,” she mentioned.
Nonetheless, Kowalcyk and others cautioned that the scenario may change.
“That is an rising situation and clearly this pathogen is evolving and there’s loads that we don’t know,” she mentioned. “I do assume that everyone is making an attempt to determine it out as rapidly as potential.”
Well being officers stress that the chance to the general public is low and that the US meals provide stays protected and secure.
“Right now, there continues to be no concern that this circumstance poses a threat to shopper well being, or that it impacts the protection of the interstate business milk provide,” the US Meals and Drug Administration mentioned in an announcement.
Right here’s what you’ll want to learn about chicken flu and meals:
WHICH STATES HAVE FOUND BIRD FLU IN DAIRY COWS?As of Friday, the pressure of chicken flu that has killed hundreds of thousands of untamed birds lately has been present in at the least 26 dairy herds in eight US states: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and South Dakota.
The virus, often called Sort A H5N1, has been detected in a variety of mammals over the previous few years, however that is the primary time it has been present in cattle, in accordance with federal well being and animal businesses. Genetic evaluation of the virus doesn’t present that it has modified to unfold extra simply in folks, the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention mentioned.
HOW IS BIRD FLU AFFECTING FOOD PRODUCTION?Agriculture officers in at the least 17 states have restricted imports of dairy cattle from states the place the virus has been detected, however, to date, authorities businesses say it’s had little impact on business milk manufacturing. Officers consider cows possible have been contaminated by publicity to wild birds, however mentioned cow-to-cow unfold “can’t be dominated out.”
Farmers are testing cows that present signs of an infection, together with sharply diminished milk provide and lethargy. Animals that present indicators or take a look at optimistic for sickness are being separated from different animals on the farms. The animals seem to recuperate inside two weeks.
US egg producers are watching the scenario carefully after chicken flu was detected in chickens in Texas and Michigan. Hundreds of thousands of birds have been killed, however the FDA mentioned the chance of affected eggs moving into the retail market or inflicting infections in people is low due to federal inspections and different safeguards.
DOES PASTEURIZATION KILL BIRD FLU?Scientists say there’s no proof to recommend that folks can contract the virus by consuming meals that’s been pasteurized, or heat-treated — or correctly cooked.
“It’s not a meals security concern,” mentioned Lee-Ann Jaykus, an emeritus meals microbiologist and virologist at North Carolina State College.
Two folks in US have been contaminated with chicken flu thus far. A Texas dairy employee who was in shut contact with an contaminated cow just lately developed a light eye an infection and has recovered. In 2022, a jail inmate in a piece program caught it whereas killing contaminated birds at a Colorado poultry farm. His solely symptom was fatigue, and he recovered.
IS GROCERY STORE MILK SAFE FROM BIRD FLU?Sure, in accordance with meals security consultants and authorities officers.
US producers are barred from promoting milk from sick cows and should divert and destroy it. As well as, milk offered throughout state traces is required to be pasteurized, or heat-treated utilizing a course of that kills micro organism and viruses, together with influenza.
“We firmly consider that pasteurization gives a protected milk provide,” Tracey Forfa, director of the FDA’s Middle for Veterinary Drugs informed a webinar viewers this week.
IS RAW MILK SAFE FROM BIRD FLU?The FDA and the CDC are much less sure about unpasteurized, or uncooked, milk offered in lots of states, saying there’s restricted details about the potential transmission of the H5N1 virus in such merchandise.
To date, no herds linked to uncooked milk suppliers have reported cows contaminated with chicken flu, however the businesses advocate that the trade not make or promote uncooked milk or uncooked milk cheese merchandise made with milk from cows that present signs — or are uncovered to contaminated cows.
US well being officers have lengthy warned in opposition to the chance of foodborne sickness tied to uncooked milk, which the CDC mentioned brought about greater than 200 outbreaks that sickened greater than 2,600 folks between 1998 and 2018.
Nonetheless, uncooked milk proponents like Mark McAfee, proprietor of Uncooked Farm USA in Fresno, Calif., mentioned the outbreak of H5N1 in business cows seems to have spurred larger gross sales of the merchandise, regardless of federal warnings.
CAN YOU CATCH BIRD FLU FROM EGGS OR MEAT?Solely dairy cows, not beef cattle, have been contaminated or proven indicators of sickness thus far, agriculture officers mentioned.
The most important egg producer within the US quickly halted operations on April 2 after discovering chicken flu in its chickens. Cal-Maine Meals culled about 1.6 million laying hens and one other 337,000 pullets, or younger hens, after the detection.
The corporate mentioned there was no threat to eggs out there and that no eggs had been recalled.
Eggs which might be dealt with correctly and cooked totally are suitable for eating, mentioned Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Middle for Meals Security and Diet Safety at George Washington College.
“Lots of people like runny eggs. Personally, if I eat an egg, it’s very properly cooked,” she mentioned.
Nonetheless, Kowalcyk and others cautioned that the scenario may change.
“That is an rising situation and clearly this pathogen is evolving and there’s loads that we don’t know,” she mentioned. “I do assume that everyone is making an attempt to determine it out as rapidly as potential.”
