New study shows raw milk is a potential vector of avian influenza

[New Sancai Compilation and First Release] Raw milk, touted online as a health panacea against illnesses such as asthma, has become the target of a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggesting it could be the vector for the next bird flu pandemic.

The Wall Street Journal published a letter to the editor from a group of scientists on May 24. The scientists detailed in the letter that "the H5N1 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) was first detected in nasal swabs and milk of dairy cows in late March 2024."

As the World Health Organization becomes increasingly concerned that avian influenza could become the next epidemic, attention is being paid to the possibility of avian influenza infection in raw milk.

"It infects many different species. That's why we have a whole system to prepare for it," Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO disease expert, said, according to the Daily Mail.

"I don't say that to scare people, but for us, it's something we have to be prepared for. We have to think outside the box. We do prepare for known threats, but also think about a few different things. Something, maybe aquatic or something."

"So, to me, unfortunately, epidemics are part of the problem that we have to deal with in our lifetime. I don't believe [COVID-19] will be the last pandemic that we have to deal with in our lifetime."

Dr. Rosemary Seaford, deputy administrator for veterinary services at the USDA, also said at a media briefing in early May that testing found "high virus loads" in raw milk. She said the main way the avian influenza virus spreads among dairy cows is through contact with milk.

(Compiled by: Wang Jimin)

(Editor: Jiang Qiming)

(Source of the article: Compiled and published by New Sancai)