Health officials in California have discovered fragments of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in a retail sample of raw milk, raising concerns about the potential for the bird flu to spread among humans. While the immediate risk is limited to individual consumers who drink raw milk, experts warn that the virus’s increasing capabilities in human hosts pose a significant threat.
The majority of reported cases have been non-life-threatening infections in farmworkers, but the possibility exists that the virus could evolve and become more contagious without the help of raw milk. However, some raw milk enthusiasts argue that drinking infected milk can provide protection against the virus, despite a lack of scientific evidence to support this claim.
In reality, raw milk poses significant health risks due to the presence of pathogens that are normally killed during pasteurization. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned about the dangers of consuming raw milk, citing cases where people became ill from contaminated products.
Experts caution that the H5N1 virus’s increasing capabilities in human hosts make it a potentially serious threat, particularly if its transmission is not properly monitored. Limited testing and surveillance of farms, workers, and products may lead to undetected infections, allowing the virus to mutate into more contagious forms.
While the risk of getting bird flu from raw milk is currently low for non-farmworkers, there is a theoretical possibility that drinking infected milk could trigger a pandemic. The 1918 influenza pandemic was caused by an H1N1 bird flu that reassorted with a common human flu virus, highlighting the importance of pasteurization in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
As experts emphasize, forgoing pasteurization or downplaying its benefits is a form of risk denial and ignores pressing concerns about public health. The decision to consume raw milk should be made with caution, taking into account the potential risks and uncertainties surrounding this product.
Source: https://slate.com/technology/2024/12/raw-milk-bird-flu-rfk-jr-antibodies-vaccines.html