H5N1 Bird Flu Found In Milk For First Time In Very High Concentrations, WHO Issues Warning

The outbreak of bird flu in cow has affected at least 13 herds in six states. The reports of sick cows began to emerge from Texas, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Idaho, Ohio, North Carolina and South Dakota.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has has disclosed a concerning finding – bird flu, scientifically known as H5N1, that has been detected at a “very high concentrations” in raw cow milk in the US. However, Health officials have emphasized that pasteurized milk, readily available in supermarkets, remains safe for consumption as it undergoes a process that eliminates harmful bacteria.  H5N1 initially surfaced in 1996 and has since escalated dramatically. The surge in bird flu outbreaks since 2020 has resulted in the deaths of millions of wild birds and poultry worldwide. Alarmingly, the virus has begun infecting various mammals, including humans, cats, bears, foxes, mink, and even penguins.

Last month, cows and goats were added to the list of affected animals, surprising experts who previously didn’t consider them susceptible to this strain of influenza. The outbreak of bird flu in cow has affected at least 13 herds in six states, as per the New York Times. The reports of sick cows began to emerge from Texas, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Idaho, Ohio, North Carolina and South Dakota. Dead birds were also found on some of these farms, and laboratory testing confirmed that some cows were infected with bird flu.

Tragically, some farms have discovered dead birds, with laboratory tests confirming cases of bird flu among the cattle.

Dr Wenqing Zhang, head of the WHO’s global influenza program, said: “The case in Texas is the first case of a human infected by avian influenza by a cow. “Bird-to-cow, cow-to-cow and cow-to-bird transmission have also been registered during these current outbreaks, which suggest that the virus may have found other routes of transition than we previously understood.

“Now we see multiple herds of cows affected in an increasing number of US states, which shows a further step of the virus spillover to mammals.

The Texas Health Department has said the cattle infections do not concern the commercial milk supply, as dairies are required to destroy milk from sick cows. “It is important for people to ensure safe food practices, including consuming only pasteurized milk and milk products,” Dr Zhang said.

Symptoms of bird flu