Agriculture officials at the state and federal levels are trying to tamp down concerns about milk safety after highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu, was found at a pair of commercial dairy operations in Kansas — the first two cases of bird flu at a state commercial dairy location.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture and US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says initial testing through the National Veterinary Services Laboratories has not found any virus mutations indicating mammal-to-mammal transmission, so the risk to the public is low and there are currently no concerns about the safety of the commercial milk supply because of the pasteurization process.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend consuming raw or unpasteurized milk under any circumstances.
State and federal officials are encouraging dairy producers to monitor their herd for symptoms, including a drop in milk production, loss of appetite and changes in the consistency of manure. Symptoms typically affect “late-stage lactating” cows. Producers are advised to call their veterinarians immediately if there are symptoms.
