Avian flu has made its way into raw cow’s milk as the virus infected herds of dairy cows. Avian flu, also known as bird flu, had historically infected poultry and wild birds. In an increasingly concerning development, Avian flu has spread to dozens of mammal species, including cats, foxes, bears and sea lions. While human illnesses have so far been extremely rare, Avian flu has a very high death rate when an infection does occur. People don’t have natural immunity to the virus. Pasteurized milk, the kind typically sold in grocery stores, remains safe to drink, according to CDC. Dairy farms are prohibited from selling any milk contaminated with the virus. An additional layer of protection is the pasteurization process, which kills viruses and bacteria. As a result the short-term risk of human infections remains very low. This could change in the not-too-distant future as the virus continues to circulate and mutate.
Full Story: STAT News, New York Post, The Guardian