WHO Reports High Concentrations of H5N1 Bird Flu in Raw Milk, Uncertain Survival Duration

The H5N1 strain has already caused widespread devastation, resulting in the deaths of tens of millions of poultry and infecting various wildlife, including land and marine mammals. Recent cases involving cows and goats highlight the expanding reach of the virus, with reports of a dairy farm worker in Texas contracting bird flu after exposure to infected cattle.

This marks only the second human case of bird flu in the US, emphasizing the escalating threat posed by the virus's transmission to mammals. WHO's global influenza program head, Wenquing Zhang, underscored the concerning trend, emphasizing the detection of the virus in milk from infected animals, indicating its potential spread through dairy channels.

While raw milk harbors a high concentration of the virus, experts are still investigating its survivability duration. The Texas health department has assured the public that infected cattle do not pose a risk to the commercial milk supply, as dairies are mandated to dispose of milk from sick cows. Moreover, pasteurization effectively eliminates the virus, ensuring the safety of milk products.

Mr. Zhang emphasized the importance of safe food practices, urging consumers to opt for pasteurized milk and milk products to minimize the risk of exposure to the virus. Despite sporadic human cases in Europe and the US in recent years, there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the A (H5N1) virus, providing some reassurance amidst ongoing concerns.