By Stephen Smoot
Warnings from both the United States Department of Agriculture and the West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner about the transmission of avian flu from cattle to humans have raised concerns.
Industry experts, however, have urged calm.
The office of the West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture released a statement last week from Kent Leonhardt “strongly urging farmers to enhance biosecurity practices on their farm, especially relating to wild birds in proximity to cattle.”
Though the disease is named “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza,” the release stresses that the threat to humans remains low. As of last Thursday, one farmer in Texas was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control as having contracted the disease. He had eye redness and no other symptoms “and is recovering.”
“CDC indicates the overall risk to humans remains low,” it added.
Leonhardt stated that “we want to ensure West Virginia consumers that our pasteurized milk and products made from pasteurized milk, are all safe for consumption.” The Food and Drug Administration reported no disruptions of supply.
A release from the USDA stated that “because of the limited information available about the transmission of HPAI in raw milk, the FDA recommends that industry does not manufacture or sell raw milk or raw/unpasteurized milk cheese products made with milk from cows showing symptoms of illness, including those infected with avian influenza or exposed to those infected with avian influenza.”
The pasteurization process effectively destroys contaminants such as viruses. Additionally, “milk from impacted
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service from the USDA detected “the first known case of HPAI in cattle in New Mexico, and that adds to the two detections in Texas that were first announced on Monday, March 25.” USDA researchers confirmed other cases in Kansas and Michigan.
Leonhardt confirmed that no cases have been found in West Virginia as of yet.
Researchers speculate that the Eurasian lineage goose seems to have introduced the pathogen in these cases.
The Ag Web journal of farming shared that expert Scott Vatilek of the cattle brokerage firm Kooima Kooima Varitek said, “The uncertainty regarding High Pathogenic Avian Influenza has caused fund selling and long liquidation.” Also “he says the hope is the market can find the answers it needs to stabilize, but there should be no fear for consumers about consuming milk or meat.”
Additionally, “looking at the science, it is clear that the market has overreacted to the news.”
The Food and Drug Administration stated that “at this time, there continues to be no concern that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health.”
