Bird flu takes yet another step closer

The bird flu virus H5N1 has been spreading among US dairy cows, infecting over 50 herds across nine states. Scientists suspect that the virus may be spreading via contaminated milking equipment, as a study found that lactating dairy cows have multiple receptors for H5N1 in their mammary glands. Raw milk from sick cows also contains high levels of the virus, and cats have become infected with bird flu after drinking unpasteurised milk. Even though most milk in the US is pasteurised, remnants of the virus have been found in 20% of pasteurised milk samples.

In a concerning development, a virus similar to H5N1 found in dairy cows can survive in meat cooked at low temperatures. The virus was found to survive in ground beef cooked to a temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit, potentially posing a risk to humans who consume undercooked meat. Experts fear that as H5N1 continues to spread among cattle in the US, rare and undercooked meat may provide a new transmission route to humans, potentially triggering a pandemic. The article concludes by suggesting that it may be time to consider a vegan diet to reduce the risk of exposure to such viruses.