One examine discovered that lethal chook flu was present in uncooked cow's milk, and it may well even survive commonplace pasteurization.
Scientists examined milk samples from a herd contaminated with H5N1 in New Mexico and located excessive ranges of the virus even when refrigerated at 4C (39F).
Which means milk-drinking animals, together with people, are susceptible to changing into contaminated with the illness.
When mice had been fed untreated milk, they confirmed signs of sickness from day one, and the virus was discovered of their respiratory tract and different physique components.
The researchers heated the milk to 72 levels Celsius for various intervals of time, just like how milk obtainable in supermarkets is pasteurised.
Uncooked milk is obtainable at some well being meals shops and classy espresso retailers
Chicken flu has been detected in chickens within the UK, however no instances have been reported in cows
Within the UK, milk should be heated for at least 15 seconds and a most of 25 seconds.
Researchers discovered that even after 20 seconds of heating, the virus decreased however was not eradicated. It was destroyed after solely 25 seconds.
They wrote within the New England Journal of Drugs: 'Our information point out that H5N1 viruses in untreated milk can infect inclined animals that drink it.
'Warmth therapy for 15 or 20 seconds diminished the virus titer by greater than 4.5 log models, however didn’t utterly inactivate the virus.
'Consuming H5N1 constructive milk with out therapy poses a threat.'
Nonetheless, the researchers acknowledged that it was not possible for them to precisely replicate industrial pasteurization strategies within the laboratory.
Uncooked milk is obtainable at some well being shops, fashionable espresso retailers, and immediately from artisanal dairies.
The virus was confirmed in industrial poultry in England in February, though no instances have been reported in cows within the UK.
In the meantime, World Well being Organisation illness professional Maria Van Kerkhove stated chook flu may trigger a pandemic sooner or later.
He stated: 'It has contaminated many alternative species. So we’ve an entire system in place to be ready for it.
'I'm not saying this to scare folks, however for us that is one thing we’ve to be ready for.
'We’ve to suppose in another way. We truly put together for recognized threats, but in addition take into consideration one thing completely different, possibly waterborne or one thing else.
'So to me, sadly, pandemics are a part of what we'll cope with in our lifetime. I don't suppose this pandemic is part of our lives. [Covid] This would be the final pandemic we are going to face in our lifetime.'
