H5N1 Bird Flu Detected In Raw Cow Milk At High Levels, WHO Issues Warning

Bird flu has been detected at very high concentrations in milk, as revealed by health officials. It has been reported by the World Health Organisation that bird flu, also known as H5N1, has been found in raw cow milk in the US.

As a result, the consumption of pasteurized milk has been recommended by health officials and experts.

H5N1 Bird Flu In Raw Cow Milk

Pasteurization is a process used to kill harmful bacteria and is readily available in supermarkets. Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a viral infection that can infect birds, humans, and other animals. It is deadly to birds and can easily affect humans and other animals that come into contact with a carrier.

The World Health Organisation has stated that H5N1 was first discovered in humans in 1997 and has led to the deaths of nearly 60 per cent of those infected. The virus has also begun infecting other mammals, including humans, cats, bears, foxes, mink, and penguins. Cows were added to this list earlier this month, according to officials, reported Times Now.

Investigations are currently underway into infections in dairy herds, and cases are being investigated in several US states. Earlier, authorities mentioned that a person working on a dairy farm in Texas was recovering from bird flu after being exposed to cattle.

Officials state that the latest cases represent a further step of the virus spillover to mammals. There is also a very high virus concentration in raw milk from infected cows, and investigations are ongoing into how long the virus can survive in milk.

Alerts about bird flu have also been raised in India. An outbreak of this deadly disease in Kerala's Alappuzha has left authorities in the district concerned. According to news reports, the disease was confirmed in ducks after their sample tested positive.

The Animal Husbandry Department in Kerala has initiated several crucial measures aimed at controlling the spread of the virus, including upgrading laboratory networks, establishing diagnostic facilities, and introducing lateral flow kits for rapid field-level disease diagnosis, as reported by Times Now.

Signs and symptoms indicative of an H5N1 infection include typical flu-like symptoms such as cough, diarrhea, respiratory difficulties, fever, headache, muscle aches, malaise, runny nose, and sore throat.

The infection spreads through contact with infected bird feces, nasal secretions, or secretions from the mouth or eyes, even though there are several types of bird flu. H5N1 was the first avian influenza virus to infect humans, with the first infection occurring in Hong Kong in 1997. The outbreak was linked to handling infected poultry.

H5N1 occurs naturally in wild waterfowl, but it can easily spread to domestic poultry. The disease is transmitted to humans through contact with infected bird feces, nasal secretions, or secretions from the mouth or eyes, as per media reports.

Consuming properly cooked poultry or eggs from infected birds does not transmit bird flu, but eggs should never be served runny. Meat is considered safe if it has been cooked to an internal temperature of 165ºF.