Bird flu/USDA: USA detects virus in milk samples; product remains safe for the consumer

Cow Milk

Dairy

United States

Regulation & Compliances

Market & Price Trends

Published Mar 28, 2024

Tridge summary

The USDA has detected the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in unpasteurized milk from Kansas and Texas, with suspicions of transmission by wild migratory birds. This discovery is part of an investigation into a disease impacting dairy cows' health and milk production, conducted alongside the FDA and CDC. Despite these concerns, the USDA reassures that the milk supply is safe, highlighting the effectiveness of pasteurization in eliminating harmful pathogens. The situation is not expected to significantly affect milk availability or prices for consumers.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by a state-of-the-art LLM model and is intended for informational purposes only. It is recommended that readers refer to the original article for more context.

Original content

By Ana Ritti São Paulo, 03/26/2024 - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus was identified in clinical samples of unpasteurized milk in Kansas and Texas. In a statement, the agency said that the samples were collected from sick animals and that the source of infection is believed to be wild migratory birds that turned up dead on farms. Along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the USDA also said it is investigating a disease that has caused decreased lactation and low appetite in older dairy cows. However, the supply of milk to consumers remains safe, highlighted the USDA, pointing out that the product supplied for human consumption comes from healthy animals and that the pasteurization process inactivates viruses and bacteria. “At this stage, there is no concern about the safety of the commercial supply of milk and this ...

Source: Broadcast