US FDA says about 1 in 5 commercial milk samples tested positive for bird flu traces

One in five samples of pasteurized milk tested across the U.S. contained remnants of the bird flu virus that has infected dairy cows, U.S. public health officials said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the results came from a “nationally representative commercial milk sampling,” and a greater proportion of positive results came from milk in areas with infected herds.

The announcement follows the detection of an avian influenza virus in dairy cows, which sickened millions of birds. It comes nearly a month later.

So far, bird flu has been detected in 33 dairy herds in at least eight states: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas, according to the FDA.

The updated results shared Thursday follow an announcement made earlier this week from the FDA, which first said Tuesday that it found viral fragments in commercially-sold milk. However, the FDA and other health officials have maintained that it’s still safe to drink.

In response to FDA bird flu findings, authorities must implement targeted mitigation strategies to safeguard public health. Furthermore, enhanced surveillance and testing protocols are necessary to monitor the prevalence of bird flu in dairy products. Additionally, consumer awareness campaigns can educate the public about the risks associated with bird flu contamination and encourage proper food handling practices.
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