Study Highlights on Bird Flu Virus in Milk Samples
- Research shows milk samples from areas with infected dairy herds have higher chances of testing positive for the bird flu virus.
Findings by the United States Food and Drug Administration
The FDA reported that fragments of the bird flu virus were detected in around 20% of retail milk samples tested in a nationally representative study.
- Samples with a higher likelihood of testing positive were collected from virus-infected dairy herds across the country.
- Traces of the bird flu virus were found in 1 in 5 samples of pasteurized milk.
Presence of Bird Flu in Dairy Herds
Bird flu has been identified in 33 herds across eight states in the US, including Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio, and Texas.
Consumer Safety and Public Health
The FDA and public health experts confirm that there is no evidence to suggest that milk is dangerous for consumers, and no live virus has been found in milk on store shelves.
Expert Opinion on Bird Flu Outbreak
Richard Webby, a virologist and influenza expert, stated that the presence of the virus in milk samples indicates a widespread outbreak.
Recent Developments and Collaborative Efforts
The FDA, along with the USDA and CDC, is investigating the bird flu outbreak in dairy cows. The testing method used, PCR testing, detects genetic material but does not confirm the presence of live, infectious virus.
