Bird Flu Outbreak Prompts Warnings About Eating Runny Eggs
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This week, U.S. public health concerns over bird flu ratcheted up as the second case of bird flu infecting a human was confirmed amid outbreaks at two of the largest commercial egg producers and several dairy farms.
As avian influenza is spreading, so are alerts about eating runny eggs and consuming certain dairy products.
“The risk of getting avian flu from eggs is relatively low, and from cooked eggs, it’s probably extremely low,” says Stephen Rich, PhD, a professor in the department of microbiology at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, who specializes in the study of zoonotic diseases, or those that originate in animal populations but occasionally spill over into humans.
He suggests that the risk of gastrointestinal illness from salmonella bacteria in undercooked eggs is probably much greater.
Bird Flu Has Spread to Cows as Well
The FDA emphasized that most milk distributed in the United States is pasteurized, and the process has “continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza.”
The federal health agency adds, however, that it’s uncertain if the avian flu can be transmitted through consumption of unpasteurized (raw) milk and products like cheese made from the raw milk of infected cows.
Wild Birds Blamed for Spread of Avian Flu in Commercial Poultry
“As the weather remains cool and wild birds continue their migration, conditions are ideal for the virus to thrive and spread,” said the state veterinarian, Nora Wineland, DVM, in a statement. “While these conditions persist, the need to take preventative measures will be high.”
Individuals who work with birds are urged to wash hands before and after handling them.
Bird Flu Is Also Spreading to Dairy Cows
“No contaminated milk is known to have entered the food chain; it has all been dumped,” said the agriculture commissioner, Sid Miller, in a statement. “In the rare event that some affected milk enters the food chain, the pasteurization process will kill the virus.”
To prevent disease spread, infected cows are being isolated and all livestock are being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, but dairy herds are not being depopulated as with poultry.
Cook Your Eggs Well, but Don’t Be Alarmed
The current outbreak of avian flu is no reason to panic, according to Rich. “Cases among humans are very rare and those infected don’t become infectious to other people,” he says.
With the risk of spillover to the human population still so low, Rich encourages people not to be overly concerned, but if they want to take extra precautions, they can be more conscientious about how they prepare or order their eggs.
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