Avian flu virus in milk: seven things to know

Here’s what you need to know.

Is pasteurized milk safe to drink, even if it contains avian flu virus particles?

In short, yes.

The pasteurization process kills harmful bacteria and viruses, and experts say this also results in H5N1 particles.

Elyse Stachler, a researcher at the Broad Institute who conducted the tests, said the presence of H5N1 particles in the milk suggests that a cow providing milk was infected, but not that the pasteurized milk contained a live virus. Since the sample that tested positive was processed outside of New England, it is unlikely that this infected cow is local to our area.

Experts highlight the success of pasteurization in preventing the spread of infections, even in the presence of infectious particles.

What is the difference between raw milk and pasteurized milk?

Pasteurization is the process of heating milk to a high enough temperature to kill any harmful germs. Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized.

Milk pasteurization began in the 1920s, when millions of people fell ill and died from tuberculosis, scarlet fever, typhoid fever and other diseases transmitted by raw milk.

Is raw milk safe to drink?

The CDC considers raw milk one of the “riskiest foods.”

While advocates say the beneficial bacteria found in raw milk may promote health, the FDA and CDC recommend against consuming it, citing long-standing information regarding the increased risk of foodborne illnesses associated with many pathogens that may be present in milk that is not pasteurized.

In Massachusetts, raw milk is not sold in grocery stores and can only be purchased from certain farms.

“We don’t know exactly what types of infections humans might get from drinking raw milk containing the infectious H5N1 virus, but no one should want to find out the answer the hard way,” said Bill Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public. Health.

Last month, approximately 24 cats on a Texas dairy farm contracted H5N1 by consuming raw milk from H5N1-infected cows; more than half of the cats died.

Should I worry about my ice cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.? ?

Samuel Alcaine, associate professor of food science at Cornell University, said dairy products found in most supermarkets are pasteurized and therefore pose no health risks.

“There wouldn’t really be a difference in risk between fluid milk and, say, cottage cheese or ice cream,” Alcaine said.

Experts said the main danger of consuming dairy products is that the products are not pasteurized, like some raw milk cheeses.

“Studies have shown that pasteurization is an effective way to control a virus and eliminate it,” Alcaine said.

How many tests does store-bought milk undergo?

There are regulatory standards to ensure that dairy products are safe before they are put on store shelves.

Alcaine highlighted the FDA’s Pasteurized Milk Order, which ensures that milk meets Grade “A” standards and is approved by public health authorities before entering the market. (More than 90 percent of milk produced in the United States is Grade A.)

The grading process looks at the number of bacteria and white blood cells in the milk that could indicate the presence of a sick cow. If counts exceed certain levels, milk is removed from the reserve.

Matthew Moore, an assistant professor at UMass Amherst who focuses on the microbiology of food safety, said there should be more testing of raw milk.

“When it comes to the commercial pasteurized milk and dairy products that you buy, our country does a very good job of ensuring their safety,” he said.

What about the safety of farm workers?

Public health experts are concerned about the health of farm workers who may come into contact with infected cows. (So ​​far this year, only one worker has tested positive for the virus; the worker suffered from a mild illness and has since recovered.)

Some experts have said those who work on dairy farms should have broader access to testing and testing. protective equipment.

Alexa Coultoff can be contacted at alexa.coultoff@globe.com. Am here @alexacoultoff.