USDA Announces Testing of Ground Beef for Bird Flu in Response to Dairy Cow Outbreak
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that federal food safety inspectors will begin testing ground beef for the presence of bird flu in states where dairy cows have tested positive for the virus. This move comes in response to the recent outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in dairy cattle herds across nine states. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will be carrying out three separate beef safety studies to ensure the integrity of the meat supply.
The first study involves sampling ground beef from grocery stores in the affected states to determine if any viral particles are present. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis will be used to detect the presence of the H5N1 virus. The second study focuses on testing beef muscle from dairy cows that have been condemned at selected slaughterhouses for systemic pathologies. This will help identify if the bird flu virus is present in the muscle tissue. The third study is a ground beef cooking study, which involves using a “virus surrogate” in ground beef and cooking it at different temperatures to determine the log-reduction of the H5N1 virus.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has previously stated that pasteurization, which involves applying heat, kills the bird flu virus in milk. This finding came after approximately 20 percent of retail milk samples tested positive for bird flu. However, no beef cattle have tested positive for the H5N1 virus thus far. The USDA discovered bird flu in a lung tissue sample from an asymptomatic dairy cow that was sent to slaughter from an infected herd. However, the animal did not enter the food supply.
The results of the three beef safety studies are forthcoming and will be released to the public. The USDA emphasizes that it has a rigorous meat inspection process and is confident in the safety of the meat supply. However, they recommend that consumers handle raw meats properly and cook them to a safe internal temperature to kill bacteria and viruses.
The additional screening conducted by the USDA is seen as appropriate by industry groups representing meat processors, such as the Meat Institute. This screening is aimed at protecting public health and preventing the spread of animal disease.
In addition to testing ground beef, the USDA and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have implemented new requirements for lactating dairy cows. These cows must now test negative for bird flu before being moved across state lines to prevent the spread of the virus. Cows that test positive for the flu will be prohibited from being moved for 30 days until they test negative again.
Colombia is currently the only country that has restricted the import of beef and beef products from U.S. states where dairy cows have tested positive for bird flu. The CDC has reported that there has been only one known human infection in the current outbreak, which occurred in a Texas farm worker who suffered conjunctivitis. The patient was not hospitalized and is recovering after receiving antiviral treatment with oseltamivir.
The CDC emphasizes that the current risk these viruses pose to the public remains low. However, both dairy and poultry producers are advised to enhance their biosecurity efforts and monitor for and control disease in their herds and flocks.
