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Some Ohio cows have died from bird flu. Are beef and dairy still safe? Here’s what we know

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Some Ohio cows have died from bird flu. Are beef and dairy still safe? Here’s what we know

Five cows in the United States have been infected and died from bird flu or slaughtered because they did not recover, Reuters reports. 

Bird flu, also known as avian influenza or H5N1 virus, refers to the disease caused by infection from influenza Type A viruses. This virus spreads among wild aquatic birds and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.

Is beef still safe to eat? Is it safe to drink cow milk? Can humans catch bird flu, too? Here’s what to know. 

Where are cows infected with bird flu?

Animals from more than 80 dairy cow herds across 10 states have contracted bird flu since late March, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Cows in Ohio, along with South Dakota, Michigan, Texas, and Colorado, have died from bird flu. Most cows in Ohio and other states have died from secondary infections after having bird flu, according to Reuters. 

Most cows affected by bird flu recover well, a USDA spokesperson said.

Is it safe to eat beef? Is store-bought meat safe?

The USDA reported bird flu particles in the beef tissue of one slaughtered dairy cow, and it was not sent to food supply. Experiments have shown that meat injected with the bird flu virus was not found with it after being cooked to medium up to well done. 

So far, bird flu has not been found in stores.

All meat goes through a rigorous meat inspection process, according to the USDA website, and the administration is confident that meat supply is safe. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) veterinarians are present at all livestock facilities, and each animal is inspected twice before being slaughtered for the food supply.

The USDA recommends properly cooking raw meat to a safe internal temperature to kill bacteria and viruses in meat. The FSIS website has a free safe minimum internal temperature chart.

Is store-bought milk still safe to drink?

Yes, the FDA and USDA indicate that it is still safe to drink your store-bought milk due to the pasteurization process.

Collected samples don’t contain live avian flu virus, and positive results don’t mean the actual virus poses a risk to consumers.

FDA’s partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signal no significant uptick of human cases of flu and no cases of avian flu, specifically, beyond four cases reported in three states between April 1 and May 29, 2024.

What are the symptoms of bird flu in cows?

According to farmers and veterinarians, symptoms of bird flu in cattle include reduced milk production, digestive issues, fever, and diminished appetite. 

Do farmers have to cull herds of cattle infected with bird flu?

When farmers detect cows infected by bird flu, they separate them from the rest of the herd. Dairies have reported culling cows due to a lack of milk production. 

Before the US confirmed bird flu was infecting cows, farmers were culling many cows because of decreased milk production. The numbers of culled cattle dropped, however, as farmers learned that cows can recover from avian flu infections. 

Can humans get bird flu?

Humans are not usually affected by the bird flu virus. However, sporadic human infections — seen only occasionally and usually without geographic concentration — have occurred.

How does bird flu spread?

Infected birds shed bird flu virus through their saliva, mucus and feces, according to the CDC. Human bird flu infections can happen when the virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled.

Have there been cases of bird flu in humans?

Yes, but the CDC says that the public health risk related to bird flu remains low — only four cases of bird flu in humans have been reported from the 2024 outbreak.

What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?

Reported signs and symptoms of bird flu virus infections in humans have ranged from no symptoms, mild, to severe illness. 

Symptoms include:

  • Eye redness (conjunctivitis)
  • Mild flu-like upper respiratory symptoms
  • Pneumonia (requiring hospitalization) 
  • Fever (temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit [37.8 degrees Celsius] or greater)
  • Feeling feverish (fever may not be present)
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Difficulty breathing

Less common signs and symptoms include: 

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures

How to take precautions and what you should do if you think you have avian flu

The CDC developed new interim recommendations for prevention, monitoring, and public health investigations of highly pathogenic avian influenza in animals.

A list of precautions from the bird flu include: 

  • Avoid contact with any birds, particularly wild or domestic birds that appear ill or have died
  • Avoid unprotected exposure to infected live or dead animals or surfaces contaminated by them
  • Learn what to do if you have contact with infected birds or other animals and become sick
  • Getting the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of getting sick with human influenza viruses and thus the risk for seasonal and bird flu co-infection
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