Concerns regarding the avian flu virus have reached a fever pitch following its discovery in a Texas dairy herd earlier this year. In a recent report by the LA Times, investigative reporter Susanne Rust delved into the latest developments surrounding the avian flu outbreak and its intersection with raw milk consumption. The main concern is the presence of the virus in dairy herds, where it has been detected in milk samples, including pasteurized milk. Despite pasteurization’s efficacy in deactivating the virus, raw milk poses a grave risk, as evidenced by a cluster of cats in Texas that suffered fatal consequences after consuming contaminated raw milk. While there have been no reported cases of infected dairy herds in California, researchers have identified concerning spikes in wastewater samples, indicating the possible presence of avian flu or a resurgence of seasonal flu.

Source: Los Angeles Times May 23, 2024 05:39 UTC