BUFFALO, N.Y. – HPAI, commonly known as avian influenza, is spreading across dairy farms and, at last report, was present in 143 herds, with 53 new herd infections over the past month, according to Dr. Sam Alcane, associate professor, food science at Cornell University. Alcane presented the latest on HPAI and dairy at a “Hot Topics” session at the American Cheese Society Conference that wrapped on July 13.
Avian influenza outbreaks have been detected in 13 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). “And the outbreak is probably more widespread,” Alcane said, citing a lack of on-farm testing.
To get a more complete analysis, the USDA is providing incentives for farmers to test herds, including veterinary fees and reimbursement for infected milk. There are more than 27,000 dairy herds in the U.S.
One key bird flu concern: the virus settles in the mammary glands and is shed in milk, according to studies in mice. In late April, FDA collected and tested 275 bulk samples of raw milk collected from farms in four states where herds had tested positive. Half of those samples were positive for traces of influenza.
One-quarter of those aforementioned positive samples also proved to be infectious, meaning the avian influenza grew when it was inoculated into fertilized chicken eggs.
All beef in infected cows has tested negative. Four dairy farm workers have contracted the virus; all had mild flu-like systems.
Retail testing of 297 samples of pasteurized milk and other pasteurized products showed no evidence of the virus, supporting FDA’s contention that pasteurization kills the virus and that all pasteurized products are safe.
FDA is currently sampling 155 additional products gathered at retail. The agency continues to strongly advise against consumption of raw milk products.
“We do not know if time and temperature deactivate the virus in raw milk products,” said Alcane.
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