FDA Assures Safety Amid Bird Flu Virus Discovery in Milk
Federal regulators have detected inactive remnants of the H5N1 bird flu virus in pasteurized milk samples in the United States. The findings are linked to a broader outbreak where the virus has been confirmed in over 30 dairy herds across eight states. Despite the discovery of viral fragments, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reassured the public that the commercial milk supply remains safe for consumption.
The FDA is working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to further study the situation and determine whether pasteurization effectively inactivates the bird flu virus in cow milk. The results of these studies are expected to be released soon.
The outbreak has resulted in one known infection in a farmworker, while state health officials have tested additional individuals presenting flu-like symptoms. Amidst these developments, some scientists have expressed concerns about the speed and adequacy of the federal response, particularly regarding data sharing and testing protocols. Further laboratory testing is ongoing to ascertain whether the detected viral particles are active or inactive, using methods that include growing the virus in cells and in fertilized eggs.
