Bird Flu Is A Global Concern… And One Controversial Drink Could Make Things Worse

Medical experts around the world are focused on a troubling outbreak of bird flu, which they say could mutate into a virus that is easier to transmit between humans and/or leads to more severe illness.

And one product could become a catalyst for bird flu to directly infect humans.

Weighing the risks

Although the interstate sale of raw milk has been prohibited at the federal level for nearly four decades, many Americans continue to seek out unpasteurized moo juice for a variety of reasons.

One California-based raw milk advocate said earlier this year that concerns about its safety were “much ado about zero.”

Now that officials in the same state say they’ve found evidence of bird flu in samples of raw milk, however, there’s renewed focus on the topic. Most of the recorded cases of bird flu have involved farm workers, and now that the virus is present in unpasteurized milk some experts worry that it is only a matter of time before it evolves and becomes a bigger problem.

Another concern involves the fact that farmers aren’t being tested for bird flu very frequently, so we probably don’t have a very accurate estimate of just how widespread the outbreak is.

The debate intensifies

Even those who advise against drinking raw milk generally acknowledge that the risk of getting sick is relatively low. But with bird flu now a part of the conversation, the scientific consensus seems to be that this is one risk you simply shouldn't take.

Some skeptics point out that there hasn’t been any evidence of bird flu being spread through raw milk, but that doesn’t mean the virus won’t evolve to become more dangerous … or even spark another pandemic.

To be on the safe side, experts advise, reach for the pasteurized milk.

Chris Agee December 6th, 2024

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