Category: Flu Virus

Cows have entry portals for both human and bird flus. This new finding may mean that cattle could host both types of flus at once. The two viruses could then swap parts to create a new type of influenza, maybe even one that could cause a pandemic.

Cattle have three types of influenza A receptors entry portals viruses use to infect host cells veterinarian Charlotte Kristensen and colleagues report May 3 at bioRxiv.org. One portal is like a receptor that decorates human cells. Another is like that found in chickens. And the third resembles receptors from ducks.

One of those avian receptors may have allowed a virus from a wild bird to infect a dairy cow in Texas, leading to the current H5N1 bird flu outbreak in cattle.

Researchers have long thought cattle were resistant to influenza A, says Kristensen, of the University of Copenhagen. Some cows have been infected in lab studies, and there have been suggestions that cows might sometimes catch human seasonal influenza. But it surprised many experts when H5N1 bird flu was found in dairy cattle and in grocery store milk this spring (SN: 4/25/24).

In the new study, Kristensen and colleagues tested whether cows have receptors that bird flu viruses can use to infect their cells. Not only did the team find such entry portals but also found that the receptors, especially the duck version, were abundant in the mammary glands, at low levels in the respiratory tract and at very low levels in the brain. That fits with the description of the illness in cows, Kristensen says, which affects milk production but doesnt seem to make most cows very sick.

Its still unclear how an infection gets to the udder. Its possible the virus enters through the teat via contaminated milking machines. But none of the receptors are present in the ducts leading up to the milk-producing glands, Kristensen says. The virus might get to the mammary glands through the blood, but so far there are no reports of the virus in cows blood, she says.

These are just preliminary results, Kristensen says, but still important, because right now we really [dont] know very much about cattle and influenza viruses.

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Tina Hesman Saey is the senior staff writer and reports on molecular biology. She has a Ph.D. in molecular genetics from Washington University in St. Louis and a masters degree in science journalism from Boston University.

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Cows might host both human and bird flus - Science News Magazine

Its been more than two years since avian flu was first detected in Maine and two months since the virus appeared in dairy cattle west of New England. Heres what we know about its presence in Maine and risk to the state right now.

The respiratory virus is known scientifically as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1. Highly pathogenic means the virus is very contagious.

It affects all kinds of birds, is typically deadly and has typically spread to commercial and backyard flocks through migrating wild birds. This spring, it was detected in dairy cattle in the western United States.

Infected birds carry the virus in their saliva and mucus. It can spread quickly through a flock this way.

Symptoms in poultry include swollen heads, blue coloration of combs and wattles, lack of appetite, respiratory problems and diarrhea, with a significant drop in egg production.

The states risk of avian flu is rated moderate by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Three outbreaks have been detected in Maine in 2024 as of May 15. All cases were in backyard flocks of 40-60 birds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported two sites in January one in Kennebec and one in York counties and one in March in Knox County.

No detections have been confirmed in dairy cattle in Maine or New England.

Several seals and a red fox have also been found carrying the virus in Maine.

The CDC reports it does not have sufficient data on the virus presence in Maine wastewater. The virus has been detected in wastewater in minimal amountsin the rest of New England.

It is possible to come down with avian flu, especially if you regularly handle poultry, but agencies say the risk is low right now. One case in Texas is the only confirmed human infection so far, and the person has recovered.

Symptoms in humans are similar to a typical flu, including coughing, headaches, fever, chills, sore throat and congestion. If youve been exposed to avian flu and develop symptoms, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services recommends calling your doctor and the Maine CDCs 24-hour consultation line at 1-800-821-5821.

Virus remnants have been found in commercial milk, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said is nota health risk in pasteurized dairy.

The administration has found high levels of the virus in raw milk outside of Maine, and generally recommends against drinking it, but has not confirmed the risk of consuming virus particles in the milk. It believes the commercial milk supply is safe.

Raw milk and milk products are legal for state-licensed producers to sell in Maine. It is not federally legal, meaning the organization leaves regulation up to each state.

Milk production is regulated in Maine by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Department staff are analyzing federal updates and working with organizations in Maine and at the federal level, according to spokesperson Jim Britt. Updates are available on the departments website.

Sick birds and unusual deaths can be reported to the state veterinarian or through this formand at the USDAs hotline at 1-866-536-7593.

Agencies recommendtaking biosecurity steps around birds and livestock, such as keeping your distance from wild birds, even if they dont look ill, and avoiding direct contact with sick poultry. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services warns against visiting other peoples flocks.

Covering your poultrys outdoor spaces can reduce the risktheyll come into contact with the virus from wild birds.

Separate guidancefor hunters issued by the United States Department of Agriculture includes processing birds in the field when possible and using separate clothing and tools to clean them. Throw out guts and feathers in a secure place, disinfect tools and wash your hands thoroughly before touching your nose or mouth.

Elizabeth Walztoni covers rural life for the Homestead section. She came to the Bangor Daily News from the Damariscotta/Newcastle desk of the Lincoln County News. Before becoming a reporter, she worked... More by Elizabeth Walztoni

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What you need to know about avian flu in 2024 - Bangor Daily News

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) Federal and state officials continue to monitor the path of avian flu in 11 U.S. states. A list that does not include Alabama has reported dairy cattle affected with bird flu.

The Food and Drug Administration reports that last week nearly 300 tests of retail dairy products found no traces of a viable virus.

The USDA has said pasteurization appears to be consistently effective against the virus in milk from infected cows. The USDA also said it is expanding testing of the milk supply at different points in the supply chain.

Alabama health and agriculture officials say they are monitoring the flu reports from around the country.

I think it is very important that we acknowledge that there are no cases of avian influenza in cattle at this point in Alabama, that we know of, said Dr. Dee Jones, veterinarian with the Alabama Department of Public Health. And there are certainly no people. Even across the nation, 12 or 13 states impacted weve only had one positive person.

So, I think what that indicates that this virus and everything we know about this virus at this point is that it is not likely to infect people. Now unfortunately it is a flu virus and flu viruses can reassort to become more infective to people.

Jones said state health and agriculture officials have worked to ensure personal protective equipment, PPE, is available per the CDCs recommendation for dairy farm producers in the event an avian flu case is identified. Dr. Jones stressed gathering PPE isnt a prediction the virus is coming here through cattle, but it is a precaution.

U.S. health officials say they are still assessing how the virus transfers from cow to cow. Dr. Jones said backyard farmers need to continue to monitor the health of their chickens, consult with their veterinarian if they see a problem, and avoid their chickens eggs if the birds appear sick.

The USDA also advises against drinking raw milk. Alabama saw a couple of sizable bird flu outbreaks in poultry in late 2023, but no cases have been reported this year.

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No reports of cattle infected with avian flu in Alabama, PPE available for workers if needed - WHNT News 19

Nik Rajkovic / news@whmi.com

New research from Michigan State University will study the effects of a recent highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (H5N1) outbreak on dairy cattle reproduction and milk production, as well as transmission of the disease and ways to mitigate it.

Support for the new project has been provided through two sources, each covering half of the $168,000 total:

Annual capacity funding through MSU AgBioResearch from the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Capacity funding through the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture, a partnership among MSU, Michigan animal agriculture industries and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).

The project is co-led by Catalina Picasso, Zelmar Rodriguez and Annette OConnor, faculty members in the College of Veterinary Medicines Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (LCS). Picasso is a veterinarian and epidemiologist, specializing in transboundary infectious diseases in both livestock and wildlife animal populations. Rodriguez is a dairy health epidemiologist and dairy extension faculty member.

OConnor is a world-renowned veterinarian and expert in the application of quantitative epidemiology to improve policy on food safety, animal health and welfare, and veterinary practices.

According to the USDA, as of mid-May, H5N1 infections have been detected in dozens of dairy herds across Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas.

The virus, which was first detected in domestic birds in the U.S. in 2022 but not until recently in cattle, has been identified in unpasteurized milk, as well as swabs and tissue samples from sick cattle.

Symptoms may include reduced milk production, decreased appetite, and changes in milk color and consistency.

Immediately upon the onset of the H5N1 outbreak in Michigan dairy cattle, MSU AgBioResearch, the College of Veterinary Medicine and MDARD began conversations about research questions that when answered could inform policy and management strategies to help prevent transmission within and across dairy herds, said James Averill, assistant director of MSU AgBioResearch and leader of the organizations animal agriculture initiatives.

This research will enable the dairy industry to better understand H5N1 and the impacts on dairy herds over time.

The research team will seek to answer several key questions, such as:

Impact: What are the short- and long-term effects of the disease on reproduction and milk production?

At the herd level: What factors influence the likelihood of herds becoming infected?

At the cow level: What increases or decreases the likelihood of cows becoming infected?

Transmission: How is the virus spreading within and between herds?

Theres still an enormous amount of information we dont know, OConnor said.

This outbreak underscored the critical need to understand the dynamics, impact and prevention of H5N1 among the cattle population. We are fortunate to be able to ground this research in on-farm studies, working closely with MDARD to access farms that have had herds test positive for the virus.

The team plans to conduct five studies on farms with H5N1-positive animals. They will study lactating cows, dry cows and calves, collecting blood, nasal swabs and milk samples to be tested. All H5N1 testing is being performed by the MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, the only laboratory in Michigan approved by the USDA to test for highly pathogenic avian influenza in any species.

Additionally, researchers will examine milking equipment for H5N1 presence and compare testing accuracy between pooled and individual samples.

Data from Michigan farms will be combined with findings from other universities nationwide for a comprehensive analysis. Were trying to understand how long animals are shedding the virus and how long the virus stays active, OConnor said.

For example, if we were to find that cattle are often positive on nasal swabs, we might conclude that nose-to-nose contact is a common route of transmission. Likewise, we may see that some samples come back negative quite often and show that those routes are much less likely. The overall goal is to equip our producers with the information needed to make informed decisions on how to best protect their cattle, and by extension, animal safety more broadly.

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MSU Researchers to Study Avian Flu in Dairy Cattle, Prevention - WHMI

As bird flu continues to spread among America's dairy cows, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made it easier for the public to track how close the outbreak might be to their area.

Drawing on data from 600 wastewater sampling sites across the U.S., the federal agency created an interactive map showing current influenza A levels in comparison to the same sites' levels during flu season last year. The CDC said once virus levels are at the 80th percentile or higher, it'll work to better understand why cases are rising there.

Data from the two most recent weeks of wastewater samples show 230 sites across 34 states met the criteria for influenza A virus analysis, and three sites from three states Saline County in Kansas, Pinellas County in Florida, and Kane County in Illinois were at the high level, being greater than the 80th percentile.

The one disclaimer with the new dashboard is that wastewater monitoring methods at these sites don't have the ability to distinguish which subtype of influenza A is detected, like whether it's H5N1 bird flu or the seasonal flu virus. But the CDC says most of the latter flu time activity peaks between December and February, so new spikes in wastewater influenza A detection are likely indicative of a bird flu outbreak in the area.

Wastewater monitoring data also can't show where the influenza A originated, like whether it's from a human, an animal or an animal product. But the CDC says it has other surveillance systems to complement these lapses.

The bird flu virus was first confirmed in the U.S. on March 25 from dairy cattle in the Texas panhandle region. As of Wednesday, 42 herds in nine states have been affected by the virus.

USDA

However, dairy farmers have been reluctant to report outbreaks within their cattle, creating gaps within testing and tracking capabilities. This prompted a federal order to be put in place since April 29 requiring testing be done prior to interstate travel for lactating dairy cattle, and instating mandatory reporting of positive influenza A test results. The USDA also announced last week up to $28,000 in assistance to farmers who have been affected by the spread of the virus.

Since the first case, the CDC said it's monitored at least 260 people, with one case in a Texas dairy worker being identified as H5N1. The person, who is only the second person to ever contract the virus in the U.S., has since recovered.

Rare human bird flu infections can occur when the virus gets into a person's mouth, nose, eyes or is inhaled, according to the CDC. Most cases have occurred when a person has close or unprotected contact with sick birds or their habitats. Ensuing illnesses can range in severity from no symptoms to mild infections or severe pneumonia that result in death, the agency said.

The CDC says the current risk to the general public amid the bird flu outbreak is low, but it recommends people exposed to birds or infected mammals should be cautious.

Grocery store milk containing viral remnants is still safe due to the pasteurization process killing the virus, according to the FDA, but it's unknown whether the same can be said for raw milk.

Both the CDC and FDA recommend against drinking raw milk because high levels of H5N1 have been found in supplies, and if a person consumes raw milk containing the live virus, the person can theoretically become infected "by the virus binding to a limited amount of virus receptors in the upper respiratory tract or by aspiration of virus into the lower respiratory tract where receptors that A(H5N1) viruses can bind to are more widely distributed," the CDC says.

Despite the warning, NielsenIQ reported that since March 25 weekly sales of raw milk have increased by 21% to 65% compared to the same periods a year ago.

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Curious if the bird flu is close to your area? The CDC's new dashboard can help you track it - Scripps News

An unusual surge in flu viruses detected at wastewater treatment plants in California and other parts of the country is raising concerns among some experts that H5N1 bird flu may be spreading farther and faster than health officers initially thought.

In the last several weeks, wastewater surveillance at 59 of 190 U.S. municipal and regional sewage plants has revealed an out-of-season spike in influenza A flu viruses a category that also includes H5N1.

The testing which is intended to monitor the prevalence of normal flu viruses that affect humans has also shown a moderate to high upward trend at 40 sites across California, including San Francisco, Oakland and San Diego. Almost every city tested in the Bay Area shows moderate to high increases of type A viruses.

Alexandria Boehm, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University and principal investigator and program director for WastewaterSCAN an infectious disease monitoring network run by researchers at labs at Stanford, Emory University and Alphabet Inc.s life sciences research organization was careful to note that an increase in human influenza A virus in wastewater does not necessarily mean that bird flu is present. However, it does raise that question.

Some experts fear that H5N1 is essentially flying under the radar, spreading undetected among birds, livestock and possibly humans, and say the increase in positive test results at sewage plants could be an indication of this. They worry that if the virus continues to spread among livestock, there is a greater risk that the virus will mutate in a way that makes it more of a threat to humans.

There seems to be an outbreak throughout California, and, as far as I know, they havent reported any infected cows in that state yet, said Marc Johnson, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Missouri, referring to the cluster of yellow and orange dots on the WastewaterSCAN map.

Johnson is among a number of experts urging the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to test specifically for H5N1 and to make those results public.

Avian flu has been positively identified in 42 cattle herds across nine states, suggesting its spread has been somewhat limited. However, the wastewater surveillance testing shows a surge in flu viruses in 23 states, including some that have seen outbreaks at dairy farms.

Boehm said they have testing in 41 states; not all states participate in the WastewaterSCAN academic program.

So far, there have been no reported herds infected in California, which is the nations largest milk producer. The state supplies roughly 20% of the nations milk, is home to about 1,300 dairy farms and has an estimated 1.7 million dairy cows.

Most human influenza viruses are seasonal, arriving in the fall and disappearing by early spring. Therefore, finding the virus in wastewater during these periods is what wed expect when you have more influenza cases in hospitals, more hospitalizations, more emergency department visits, said Boehm, the Stanford professor.

What weve noticed this year is that after influenza season, there was a fraction of the wastewater treatment plants we survey, that when we looked closely at them at the end of April, there were increases, she said, including some really obvious ones such as two in Amarillo, Texas, where they knew H5N1 had been detected in dairy cattle nearby.

The team contacted the local public health department and got permission to test for bird flu virus. It was a match. So, too, was the wastewater from a Dallas plant.

Boehm said the finding suggests that the increases they are observing at these other sites 59 of the 190 that they track might also be avian flu.

She said the sites they are looking at deal with municipal, not agricultural, wastewater, so theyre not getting farm runoff.

Instead, at least in the case of Amarillo, its probably from permitted dairy processing centers places that were making cheese or yogurt ... that had a permit to discharge into the waste stream.

Whats causing the upward trend at other sites is not clear. But if the uptick is the result of bird-flu infected dairy getting into the municipal waste stream and since milk is generally trucked from dairies to processing centers the source of infection is probably not too far away. These positive sites provide a geographical flag for public health officials to take a closer look. (The CDC has said that pasteurization of milk kills the virus.)

Johnson, who developed an H5N1 assay to test wastewater in Missouri, was asked by federal officials to withhold using the test for fear it could add to the confusion.

This is the perfect example of why it makes sense, to test specifically for H5N1 in wastewater, he said. Because then you would know whether this is really H5, because no matter where its coming from, if its showing up in California, thats saying something.

Johnson said if the tests show its H5N1, there could be infected cows in California.

The CDC monitors roughly 600 sites, and what we are seeing is very localized increases that are out of season for seasonal flu, said Amy Kirby, senior service fellow in the Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch at the CDC.

She said that when they see those increases, they go in for a deeper look.

In an interview on Friday, she said she was unable to provide more information, because the agency was finalizing that data and checking it to make sure its correct.

Tom Skinner, a CDC spokesman, said that data will be available on the agencys avian flu dashboard Tuesday. He said in an email that some of the sites theyve looked at are in California, but declined to add more information until after the agency has posted its own dashboard.

To some researchers, the spike in viruses found in wastewater is a call to action.

I think we have a good opportunity here to kind of prepare in case of the worst case scenario, said John Dennehy, a virologist at the City University of New Yorks Graduate Center. Now, we know its there. We know it hasnt jumped into humans yet, but can we muster the public health infrastructure to prepare in advance if this should jump over from cows into humans? Whether it is coming from milk? Or some other means?

It was in Dennehys laboratory that New York Citys coronavirus wastewater test was developed.

Dennehy and his colleague, Denis Nash distinguished professor of epidemiology and executive director of City University of New Yorks Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health said its only been since about 2020 that researchers have been using wastewater surveillance to monitor public health.

Its now seen as a first line method of surveillance gathering information about outbreaks of flu, polio, rhinoviruses and other diseases. But its largely been driven by academics and local agencies.

In the case of bird flu, a more centralized, or organized, system of monitoring and messaging is required, they said.

I think the important thing here is that CDC should be describing whats going on with influenza A in wastewater, said Nash. Its great that academics are doing it. We all are stepping in because it often seems like the government is a little bit delayed or just not engaged. But really, the CDC should be leading this.

Calls to wastewater treatment centers in Santa Cruz and Oakland went unreturned. A query to an official at UC Davis wastewater treatment center, which shows an uptick, also went unanswered.

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Is there bird flu in California's wastewater? - Los Angeles Times

Researchers who sequenced viruses from wastewater samples from 10 Texas cities found H5N1 avian flu virus in 9 of them, sometimes at levels that rivaled seasonal flu.

In other developments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in updates on its response to H5N1 outbreaks in cattle said experiments in ferrets began last week.

A team from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Health Sciences Center detailed their whole-virome sequencing findings in a new preprint study.

With many questions still unanswered about how the virus is spreading in dairy cows and how widely the virus is circulating, scientists are increasingly eyeing wastewater sampling as a key surveillance tool.

The group reported H5N1 in wastewater from March 4 to April 25. They said 19 of 23 monitored wastewater sites had at least one detection event and that, over time, H5N1 became the dominant serotype. They did not name the 10 cities they monitored, and the findings have yet to be peer-reviewed.

On X, Mike Tisza, PhD, the first author of the study and assistant professor of virology and microbiology at Baylor, said it's still not clear where the viruses came from, but the evidence tilts toward an animal source, because the researchers didn't see any mutations with known links to human adaptation.

He added that the network in Texas appears to be the only one using the wastewater sequencing technology, but that H5N1 is probably present in wastewater in other areas. If the virus becomes more of a problem, Tisza said wastewater sequencing may be the best way to identify new adaptive mutations.

In a May 10 response update, the CDC said more than 260 people have so far been monitored for H5N1 symptoms following exposure to infected or potentially infected animals. Of at least 33 who had flulike symptoms, no additional human cases have been reported beyond an initial case in a Texas dairy worker who had conjunctivitis.

The CDC said it is still in talks with multiple states about state-led field epidemiologic investigations.

Meanwhile, the group said it is moving ahead with scientific work to better characterize the virus, Last week it experimentally infected ferrets with the virus that infected the Texas dairy worker to assess disease severity and transmission under different contact scenarios. Scientists often use ferrets as a model to assess flu viruses because they get sick and transmit them similar to people.

Results are expected in about 3 weeks, and the CDC said experimental infection of various cell lines will follow.

In other developments:

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Wastewater testing finds H5N1 avian flu in 9 Texas cities - University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Theres no solid evidence that bird flu is spreading among people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday amid an outbreak of the virus in dairy cows.

New data from 189 of the agencys wastewater sampling sites showed that as of May 4, an influenza A virus had been detected at higher-than-average levels in a handful of sites across the country, including in Alaska, California, Florida, Illinois and Kansas.

The bird flu currently circulating in cows, called H5N1, is a type of influenza A.

Just one site, in Saline County, Kansas, showed notably high levels of flu virus for this time of the year. Four herds in Kansas tested positive in April, the CDC said.

Its unclear whether the Kansas wastewater samples were limited to human waste or whether they included runoff water from farms. Its also unclear whether the high levels of virus in the wastewater indicate infections in humans, cows, birds or other animals. There hasnt been any unusual uptick in flu-like illnesses in recent weeks, the CDC said.

Wed really like to understand what might be driving that influenza A increase during what we consider the lower transmission season for influenza A, said Jonathan Yoder, deputy director of the CDCs division of infectious disease readiness and innovation.

A representative from one of Saline Countys major hospitals didnt respond to a request for comment.

Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease expert and an associate professor of medicine at the Duke University School of Medicine in North Carolina, said the new CDC data is actually pretty reassuring.

Were in the middle of May, he said, when there isnt naturally a lot of flu. Wolfe said he isnt seeing any uptick in flu-like illnesses in his medical practice.

As of Tuesday, 42 herds in nine states Kansas, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas had been affected.

The agency is monitoring 260 people who have been exposed to infected dairy cows for flu-like symptoms. Thirty-three people have been tested for the virus. So far just one person a dairy farm worker in Texas has been diagnosed with bird flu connected to the dairy cow outbreak. He developed a severe case of conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, and has recovered.

Erika Edwards is a health and medical news writer and reporter for NBC News and "TODAY."

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Bird flu virus possibly found in a handful of wastewater sites, CDC says - NBC News

Theres no solid evidence that bird flu is spreading among people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday amid an outbreak of the virus in dairy cows.

New data from 189 of the agencys wastewater sampling sites showed that as of May 4, an influenza A virus had been detected at higher-than-average levels in a handful of sites across the country, including in Alaska, California, Florida, Illinois and Kansas.

The bird flu currently circulating in cows, called H5N1, is a type of influenza A.

Just one site, in Saline County, Kansas, showed notably high levels of flu virus for this time of the year. Four herds in Kansas tested positive in April, the CDC said.

Its unclear whether the Kansas wastewater samples were limited to human waste or whether they included runoff water from farms. Its also unclear whether the high levels of virus in the wastewater indicate infections in humans, cows, birds or other animals. There hasnt been any unusual uptick in flu-like illnesses in recent weeks, the CDC said.

Wed really like to understand what might be driving that influenza A increase during what we consider the lower transmission season for influenza A, said Jonathan Yoder, deputy director of the CDCs division of infectious disease readiness and innovation.

A representative from one of Saline Countys major hospitals didnt respond to a request for comment.

Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease expert and an associate professor of medicine at the Duke University School of Medicine in North Carolina, said the new CDC data is actually pretty reassuring.

Were in the middle of May, he said, when there isnt naturally a lot of flu. Wolfe said he isnt seeing any uptick in flu-like illnesses in his medical practice.

As of Tuesday, 42 herds in nine states Kansas, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas had been affected.

The agency is monitoring 260 people who have been exposed to infected dairy cows for flu-like symptoms. Thirty-three people have been tested for the virus. So far just one person a dairy farm worker in Texas has been diagnosed with bird flu connected to the dairy cow outbreak. He developed a severe case of conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, and has recovered.

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Bird flu virus possibly found in a handful of wastewater sites, CDC says - AOL

Sales of raw milk appear to be on the rise, despite years of warnings about the health risks of drinking the unpasteurized products and an outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows.

Since March 25, when the bird flu virus was confirmed in U.S. cattle for the first time, weekly sales of raw cows milk have ticked up 21% to as much as 65% compared with the same periods a year ago, according to the market research firm NielsenIQ.

That runs counter to advice from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which calls raw milk one of the riskiest foods people can consume.

Raw milk can be contaminated with harmful germs that can make you very sick, the CDC says on its website.

As of Monday, at least 42 herds in nine states are known to have cows infected with the virus known as type A H5N1, federal officials said.

The virus has been found in high levels in the raw milk of infected cows. Viral remnants have been found in samples of milk sold in grocery stores, but the FDA said those products are safe to consume because pasteurization has been confirmed to kill the virus.

Its not yet known whether live virus can be transmitted to people who consume milk that hasn't been heat-treated.

But CDC officials warned last week that people who drink raw milk could theoretically become infected if the bird flu virus comes in contact with receptors in the nose, mouth and throat or by inhaling virus into the lungs. There's also concern that if more people are exposed to the virus, it could mutate to spread more easily in people.

States have widely varying regulations regarding raw milk, with some allowing retail sales in stores and others allowing sale only at farms. Some states allow so-called cowshares, where people pay for milk from designated animals, and some allow consumption only by farm owners, employees or non-paying guests.

The NielsenIQ figures include grocery stores and other retail outlets. They show that raw milk products account for a small fraction of overall dairy sales. About 4,100 units of raw cow's milk and about 43,000 units of raw milk cheese were sold the week of May 5, for instance, according to NielsenIQ. That compares with about 66.5 million units of pasteurized cow's milk and about 62 million units of pasteurized cheese.

Still, testimonies to raw milk are trending on social media sites. And Mark McAfee, owner of Raw Farm USA in Fresno, California, says he cant keep his unpasteurized products in stock.

People are seeking raw milk like crazy, he said, noting that no bird flu has been detected in his herds or in California. Anything that the FDA tells our customers to do, they do the opposite.

The surge surprises Donald Schaffner, a Rutgers University food science professor who called the trend absolutely stunning.

Food safety experts like me are just simply left shaking their heads, he said.

From 1998 to 2018, the CDC documented more than 200 illness outbreaks traced to raw milk, which sickened more than 2,600 people and hospitalized more than 225.

Raw milk is far more likely than pasteurized milk to cause illnesses and hospitalizations linked to dangerous bacteria such as campylobacter, listeria, salmonella and E. coli, research shows.

Before milk standards were adopted in 1924, about 25% of foodborne illnesses in the U.S. were related to dairy consumption, said Alex OBrien, safety and quality coordinator for the Center for Dairy Research. Now, dairy products account for about 1% of such illnesses, he said.

I liken drinking raw milk to playing Russian roulette, OBrien said. The more times people consume it, the greater the chance theyll get sick, he added.

Despite the risks, about 4.4% of U.S. adults nearly 11 million people report that they drink raw milk at least once each year, and about 1% say they consume it each week, according to a 2022 FDA study.

Bonni Gilley, 75, of Fresno, said she has raised generations of her family on raw milk and unpasteurized cream and butter because she believes its so healthy" and lacks additives.

Reports of bird flu in dairy cattle have not made her think twice about drinking raw milk, Gilley said.

If anything, it is accelerating my thoughts about raw milk, she said, partly because she doesnt trust government officials.

Such views are part of a larger problem of government mistrust and a rejection of expertise, said Matthew Motta, who studies health misinformation at Boston University.

It's not that people are stupid or ignorant or that they dont know what the science is, he said. Theyre motivated to reject it on the basis of partisanship, their political ideology, their religion, their cultural values.

CDC and FDA officials didnt respond to questions about the rising popularity of raw milk.

Motta suggested that the agencies should push back with social media posts extolling the health effects of pasteurized milk.

Communicators need to make an effort to understand why people consume raw milk and try to meet them where they are, he said.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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There's bird flu in US dairy cows. Raw milk drinkers aren't deterred - ABC News