Whereas sustaining that avian influenza poses a low threat to most of the people, well being officers once more warned on Wednesday in regards to the potential threat of unpasteurized milk.
“We proceed to strongly advise in opposition to the consumption of uncooked milk,” Dr. Donald Prater, appearing director of the Heart for Meals Security and Utilized Vitamin on the Meals and Drug Administration, mentioned at a information convention.
Raw milk, in one of the best of instances, “is among the riskiest meals that now we have,” mentioned Benjamin Chapman, a professor and meals security specialist at North Carolina State College. However with circumstances of avian influenza, or chicken flu, detected in dairy cows, it may doubtlessly be even riskier now, well being consultants warn.
Practically all the dairy milk offered in shops is pasteurized, and testing by the F.D.A. has to this point proven that this course of inactivates the avian influenza virus H5N1.
When you’re consuming pasteurized milk or dairy merchandise, “I’m assured the chance is very low at this level,” mentioned Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious illnesses at UC Davis Well being.
Raw milk, then again, isn’t pasteurized and may include harmful germs. Whereas the Meals and Drug Administration has lengthy really helpful customers keep away from ingesting it, more than two dozen states have legalized the sale of uncooked milk.
