A new strain of bird flu, identified as D1.1, has been discovered in the milk of dairy cows in Nevada, marking the first time this virus has been identified in cattle. This revelation comes amid rising concerns about the spread of bird flu, which has already affected 950 herds across 16 states in the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that in the past two years, approximately half of the 950 human cases of bird flu worldwide have resulted in death. Despite these alarming statistics, experts assure that the nation's food supply remains safe due to rigorous inspection procedures and pasteurization processes.
The discovery of the D1.1 strain in cattle has heightened the risk of infection, particularly given recent severe infection reports. The bird flu's ability to spill over from birds to humans has been well-documented, and experts warn that a similar risk exists from cattle to humans.
"I would say the risk of spillover of this genotype is also high from cows to humans. We know it has already spilled over from birds to humans." – Abraar Karan, MD
Even with these concerns, food safety experts emphasize that pasteurization effectively neutralizes the bird flu virus in dairy products. Thus, consumers can continue to safely consume milk, cream, yogurt, cheese, and other pasteurized dairy items.
"Pasteurization kills the bird flu virus, so all pasteurized dairy products (milk, cream, yogurt, cheese, etc.) are safe." – Schaffner
The B3.13 strain of bird flu has significantly impacted cattle herds across the country, leading to increased vigilance in monitoring and inspecting livestock. The spread of this virus has been notable over the last couple of months, with reports of severe infections contributing to heightened public concern.
"The risk has increased as we’ve gone on — especially in the last couple of months with the report of [some] severe infections." – Seema Lakdawala, PhD
Leave a Reply