Early Tests Find Pasteurization Killed Bird Flu In Milk: FDA

Authorized by Zachary Stieber via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Results from early investigating show that pasteurization killed highly pathogenic Avian influenza in milk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says.

Containers of milk in El Paso, Texas, on March 17, 2021. (Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters)

Results from “an first limited set of geographically targeted samples” show that “pasteurization is effective in acting” the influenza, commonly known as the bird flu, the FDA said in an April 26 update.

The FDA retrieved samples from grocery stores with confirmed cases of the flu in cattle. The agency has said that 1 in 5 tested affirmative for Avian influenza, but stressed that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) investigating can return affirmative due to residual fragments.

“This additional investigating did not detect any live, infectious virus. These results reaffirm our assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe,” the regulations agency has been established.

Testing of samples of covered baby expression sold at stores besides returned negative.

Many infectious illness experts and government officials have said they believe the pasteurization process will activate the virus, besides known as avian influenza.

“I’m not willing about the milk itself,” said Samuel Alcaine, an associate prof. of food discipline at Cornell University. “It does indicate that the virus is more widespread among dairies than we had previously thought.”

The FDA, which has refused to say how many milk samples tested positive, the sources of the samples that tested positive, and what another products were tested outside milk and formula, is in the process of conducting additional testing. That investigating could find milk with live virus intact, agency officials acknowledged.

“The FDA is another assessment retail samples from its survey of 297 samples of retail regular products from 38 states,” it said. “All samples with a PCR affirmative consequence are going through inoculation tests, a gold-standard for determining if infectious virus is present. These crucial beneficiaries are ongoing, and we are committed to sharing additional investigating results as shortly as possible. Subsequent results will aid us to further review our assessment that pasteurization is effective against this virus and the commercial milk supply is safe.”

The bird flu has traditionally spread in birds. Case of H5N1 in cattle began being confirmed in the United States earlier this year. The virus has since been detected in herds in 9 states. A herd in Colorado tested affirmative on April 25, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

One individual in Texas has had a confirmed case this year and managed the infection.

Worldwide, 28 cases of H5N1 have been reported to the planet wellness Organization since the beginning of 2021, including the fresh case in Texas and a case in the United States in 2022. any of the patients survived, while others died.

Authorities say that cow-to-cow broadcast has occured. Major questions that stay unanswered include the method of that transmission and who knows have spread the virus back to birds.

The White home has said that it is monitoring the Avian flu situation, launching an “immediate consequence team” to guarantee the safety of the nation’s food supply, monitor trends to mitgate hazard and prevent the virus’ spread.

Starting on Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will require regular cows to test negative for bird flu before they are moved across state lines.

In addition to Colorado, infections among cattle have been confirmed in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, Idaho, fresh Mexico, North Carolina, and South Dakota.

In Indiana, officials are hosting possible restrictions, specified as investigating within the state, even though there are no confirmed cases, according to Bret Marsh, the state veteran.

“We’re taking a look here at the state level to see what we may request to do,” he said on a conference call.

Reuters requested to this report.