Since March, dairy farmers in Texas have been facing a new challenge as cases of H5N1 bird flu have been reported in their cattle. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been urging farmers to discard milk from infected cows to prevent the spread of the virus.
Recent studies have revealed genetic traces of H5N1 in commercial milk products, raising concerns about the potential transmission of the virus through dairy products. In areas with dairy processing plants, significant amounts of viral material have been found in wastewater, indicating a possible link to the contamination of milk products.
Although pasteurization is believed to be effective at inactivating H5N1 in milk, scientists have discovered that asymptomatic cows may be shedding the virus without showing any symptoms. Studies have found H5N1 RNA in nearly 40% of commercial milk products and approximately 20% of samples tested by the FDA.
The FDA recommends discarding milk from symptomatic cows, but milk from asymptomatic but potentially infected cows can still be sent for processing, raising concerns about the spread of the virus through contaminated milk reaching processing plants. Wastewater surveillance has shown spikes in H5N1 genetic material, further highlighting the need for testing the effectiveness of pasteurization.
Public officials are worried about the silent spread of H5N1 in dairy cattle and the potential mutation of the virus to more easily infect humans. This has led to growing concerns about the public health risk posed by contaminated dairy products. Officials emphasize the importance of continued study and vigilance in managing the potential spread of H5N1 through dairy products to protect public health.
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