"On Friday, Colorado became the latest state to detect the bird flu virus spreading in dairy cattle. It follows revelations earlier in the week that viral fragments are turning up in retail milk.
Still, scientists don't view this as an immediate threat to human health.
Genetic material is not the same as infectious virus and pasteurization is expected to inactivate the virus in milk, but the findings speak to the broader uncertainty about the extent of the spread.
"There's so many critical things that we still need to know to get a better perspective on how bad this is, or maybe it's not so bad," says Dr. Rick Bright, a virologist and the former head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)."
Will Stone reports for NPR April 26, 2024.
SEE ALSO:
"Bird Flu Is Spreading in Cows. Here’s What That Means for Milk" (Scientific American)
"Bird Flu Cases Are Likely Being Missed In Dairy Workers, Experts Say" (NBC News)
"Pasteurization Working To Kill Bird Flu In Milk, Early FDA Results Find" (CBS News)
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