To reduce the risk of bird flu infections, state health officials should bar the sale of raw milk to consumers if it contains the H5N1 avian flu virus, said the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday. Although the FDA has long warned that raw milk is a high-risk food that may carry disease-causing pathogens, more than 30 states allow the sale of unpasteurized milk from the farm, in retail stores, or through so-called cow shares.
In a letter, the FDA recommended that state, local, and tribal health officials “use regulatory authorities or implement other measures, as appropriate, to stop the sale of milk that may present a risk to consumers. This may include restricting the introduction of raw milk that may contain viable HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] H5N1 for human or animal consumption within a defined geographic region or within your state.”
To date, three workers on dairy farms have contracted mild cases of bird flu from infected cows. The most recent case, in Michigan on May 30, was the first with respiratory symptoms. Public health officials say the risk to the general public is low and that people in contact with infected animals should wear protective gear, such as gloves and face shields.
The animal health board in Minnesota quarantined a dairy farm in Benton County, about 70 miles northwest of Minneapolis, for at least 30 days because its cows were infected with the H5N1 avian flu virus. The state announced the outbreak on Thursday, a day after neighboring Iowa reported bird flu in a dairy herd in the northwestern corner of the state.
Minnesota is the 11th state to report an outbreak of bird flu in dairy cattle since March 25, when the disease was identified as the mysterious illness affecting dairy herds in the Texas Panhandle. More than 80 herds have been infected, according to a USDA list. Michigan has the most, 24 herds.
“Because raw milk has the potential to contain viable (live) HPAI H5N1 virus, it represents a potential route of consumer exposure to the virus,” said the FDA letter. However, there is only limited research on whether the virus can be transmitted through the consumption of raw milk and dairy products made from raw milk.
Tests have confirmed that pasteurization kills the H5N1 virus in milk. The FDA bans the interstate sale of raw milk and dairy products.
“We knew it was only a matter of time before this detection would reach our doorstep,” said Minnesota state veterinarian Dr. Brian Hoefs, who urged dairy farmers to test their cows for the virus if they appear sick. “The more the animal health community can learn about this virus today through testing and research, the better we can equip ourselves to prevent infections tomorrow.”
Animal health officials have urged dairy and poultry farmers to strengthen biosecurity measures to reduce the chance of an outbreak or accidental spread of the virus. Precautions include such steps as limiting outsider access to the farm, disinfecting boots before entering a barn, and not sharing equipment between farms.
Legislation is moving in three additional states — Delaware, Iowa, and Louisiana — to legalize the sale of raw milk within their borders, reported the Los Angeles Times. Legislators say it is a matter of “food freedom” or creating an opportunity for farmers to sell a higher-priced niche product.