New Study Finds High Levels of H5N1 Influenza in Mice Given Raw Milk from Contaminated Dairy Cows

Madison, Wisconsin, Wisconsin, USA United States of America
H5N1 maintained at refrigerated temperatures showed a small decline, but vat pasteurization reduced virus to undetectable levels, flash pasteurization greatly reduced but did not completely inactivate it
Mice administered raw milk samples experienced high virus levels in respiratory organs and moderate-to-low levels in other organs
New study finds high levels of H5N1 Influenza in mice given raw milk from infected dairy cows
New Study Finds High Levels of H5N1 Influenza in Mice Given Raw Milk from Contaminated Dairy Cows

Title: High H5N1 Influenza Levels Found in Mice Given Raw Milk from Infected Dairy Cows: A New Concern for Public Health

Lead: Mice administered raw milk samples from dairy cows infected with H5N1 influenza experienced high virus levels in their respiratory organs and lower virus levels in other vital organs, according to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This finding raises concerns about the potential risks associated with consuming raw milk contaminated with bird flu.

Background: Avian influenza A H5N1 virus particles have been detected in dairy herds across nine states, leading public health officials to advise against drinking raw milk due to potential health risks. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found traces of the virus in 20 percent of dairy products sampled from grocery shelves nationwide, but pasteurized milk is considered safe for consumption.

Study Findings: Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory conducted a study to investigate the effects of raw milk contaminated with H5N1 influenza on mice. The results showed that high levels of the virus were present in the animals' nasal passages, trachea, and lungs, with moderate-to-low levels detected in other organs.

The study also found that raw milk infected with H5N1 maintained at refrigerated temperatures showed a small decline in virus levels over five weeks. However, vat pasteurization (heating milk to 63 degrees Celsius for intervals between 5 and 30 minutes) reduced the virus to undetectable levels, while flash pasteurization (heating milk to 72 degrees Celsius for 15 or 20 seconds) greatly reduced levels of the virus but did not inactivate it completely.

Implications: The findings from this study emphasize the importance of proper handling and pasteurization of milk to prevent potential health risks associated with H5N1 influenza. Public health officials continue to advise against consuming raw milk due to these concerns, especially during outbreaks of bird flu in dairy herds.

Sources:

  • New England Journal of Medicine
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • Are there any known cases of humans contracting H5N1 from raw milk consumption?
  • Is it possible for pasteurization methods to completely eliminate all traces of H5N1 from milk?
  • What percentage of dairy herds in the US have been found to be infected with H5N1?

Sources

93%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Milk Containing Bird-Flu Virus Can Sicken Mice, Study Finds

The New York Times Apoorva Mandavilli Friday, 24 May 2024 14:00
  • Unique Points
    • Study finds that unpasteurized milk contaminated with H5N1 bird-flu virus makes mice sick and affects multiple organs
    • At least a half-dozen cats have died after consuming raw milk containing the virus
    • Virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka led the study and advises against drinking raw milk
  • Accuracy
    • FDA has found traces of the virus in 20% of dairy products sampled from grocery shelves nationwide but officials say pasteurized milk is safe to consume
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains a formal fallacy known as 'hasty generalization' in the statement 'Unpasteurized milk contaminated with H5N1...has been found to rapidly make mice sick, affecting multiple organs'. The author is making a broad assumption based on limited evidence from mice studies. Additionally, there is an example of inflammatory rhetoric in the quote: '“Don’t drink raw milk — that’s the message.” - Yoshihiro Kawaoka. This statement is not only an appeal to emotion but also uses strong language to discourage raw milk consumption.
    • . . .the new data add to evidence that virus-laden raw milk may be unsafe for other mammals, including humans.
    • “Don’t drink raw milk — that’s the message.” - Yoshihiro Kawaoka.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

78%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

How Right Wing Commentators Are Pushing Raw Milk Misinformation

The New York Times Santul Nerkar Friday, 24 May 2024 14:06
  • Unique Points
    • Raw milk consumption is a topic of debate on sites like Infowars, Gab and Rumble.
    • Health officials are warning Americans not to drink raw milk due to health risks associated with it.
    • Public health officials have found over 200 disease outbreaks linked to unpasteurized milk from 1998 to 2018, leading to over 2,600 illnesses and three deaths.
    • Raw milk does not provide proven health benefits as claimed by some commentators.
    • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises against drinking raw milk due to potential health risks.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (50%)
    The author makes editorializing statements and uses emotional manipulation by implying that those who consume raw milk are defiant or rebellious against the government. The article also engages in selective reporting by only mentioning the potential benefits of raw milk without disclosing any peer-reviewed studies to support these claims.
    • But some media figures and influencers are misleadingly suggesting that the product is safe or even healthier than traditional milk.
    • They see the government’s heightened concerns about the dangers as overreach.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (50%)
    The author expresses a clear bias against right-wing commentators and their views on raw milk. The author also uses language that depicts these commentators as extreme or unreasonable by implying that they are ignoring serious health risks and spreading misinformation.
    • >But some media figures and influencers are misleadingly suggesting that the product is safe or even healthier than traditional milk.<
      • >'They say: “Bird flu in milk! Bird flu in milk! Oh, it’s the scariest thing!”’<
        • >They see the government’s heightened concerns about the dangers as overreach.<
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        97%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        High H5N1 influenza levels found in mice given raw milk from infected dairy cows

        National Institutes of Health (NIH) Friday, 24 May 2024 15:59
        • Unique Points
          • Mice administered raw milk samples from dairy cows infected with H5N1 influenza experienced high virus levels in their respiratory organs and lower virus levels in other vital organs.
          • ,
          • Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory fed droplets of raw milk from infected dairy cattle to five mice, which demonstrated signs of illness and were euthanized on day four to determine organ virus levels.
          • High levels of H5N1 virus were found in the animals' nasal passages, trachea and lungs with moderate-to-low levels in other organs.
          • The study found that raw milk infected with H5N1 maintained at refrigerated temperatures showed a small decline in virus levels over five weeks.
        • Accuracy
          • At least a half-dozen cats have died after consuming raw milk containing the virus
          • Raw milk does not provide proven health benefits as claimed by some commentators.
          • Recent FDA tests found traces of H5N1 genetic material in about 1 of 5 milk samples purchased at retail stores.
          • None of the raw milk from farms known to have H5N1 infections was being sold to consumers, but not all dairy farms are testing their cows and some infected cows showed no symptoms.
        • Deception (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Fallacies (95%)
          No formal fallacies were found in the article. However, there are some issues with inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. The article discusses the potential risks of consuming raw milk from infected cows but does not explicitly state that raw milk consumption is dangerous or should be avoided. Additionally, while the study's findings are presented, there is an emphasis on the need for further research and caution in interpreting these results.
          • To assess the risk of H5N1 infection by consuming raw milk, researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory fed droplets of raw milk from infected dairy cattle to five mice.
          • The authors emphasize, however, that their laboratory study was not identical to large-scale industrial pasteurization of raw milk and reflect experimental conditions that should be replicated with direct measurement of infected milk in commercial pasteurization equipment.
          • In a separate experiment, the researchers stored raw milk infected with H5N1 at 4℃ (39.2 degrees Fahrenheit) for five weeks and found only a small decline in virus levels, suggesting that the virus in raw milk may remain infectious when maintained at refrigerated temperatures.
        • Bias (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        82%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        New tests confirm milk from flu-infected cows can make other animals sick — and raise questions about flash pasteurization

        CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Brenda Goodman Friday, 24 May 2024 14:02
        • Unique Points
          • New lab experiments confirm that Milk from cows infected with H5N1 influenza, also known as bird flu, is infectious and potentially even when flash pasteurized.
          • Raw milk contained high levels of H5N1 virus which didn’t decay over time, raising concerns.
          • Vat pasteurization method, heating milk to 63 degrees Celsius for intervals between 5 and 30 minutes, reduced the virus to undetectable levels. Flash pasteurization method, heating milk to 72 degrees Celsius for 15 or 20 seconds, greatly reduced levels of the virus but didn’t inactivate it completely.
          • None of the raw milk from farms known to have H5N1 infections was being sold to consumers, but not all dairy farms are testing their cows and some infected cows showed no symptoms.
        • Accuracy
          • New lab experiments confirm that milk from cows infected with H5N1 influenza is infectious and potentially even when flash pasteurized.
          • Recent FDA tests found traces of H5N1 genetic material in about 1 of 5 milk samples purchased at retail stores. The viral fragments were inert and couldn’t make anyone sick.
          • Raw milk can infect susceptible animals, indicating a potential risk to humans.
        • Deception (35%)
          The article contains selective reporting and sensationalism. The author focuses on the potential danger of flash pasteurization while downplaying the effectiveness of vat pasteurization in inactivating the virus. The title implies that raw milk is unsafe at any speed, but the study only shows that flash pasteurization may not completely eliminate the virus, not that raw milk is inherently dangerous. The author also uses emotional manipulation by describing signs of illness and euthanizing mice to test for infection.
          • New lab experiments with milk from cows infected by H5N1 influenza, known as bird flu, confirm that it is infectious, especially when left raw, or untreated...
          • Milk samples heated for 15 or 20 seconds were still able to infect incubated chicken eggs...
          • The findings that viable virus was found in the milk samples after 5 weeks of storage at (4 degrees Celsius), and that mice could be infected through drinking milk containing the virus...
        • Fallacies (85%)
          The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating 'New tests confirm milk from flu-infected cows can make other animals sick' and 'raw milk can infect susceptible animals, the researchers said - and that could also indicate a risk to humans.' These statements are not fallacies but they create a sense of urgency and fear without providing enough context or evidence to support these claims. The author also uses an appeal to authority by mentioning the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's statement that raw milk is unsafe, but does not provide any new information or evidence beyond what has already been reported.
          • ]New tests confirm milk from flu-infected cows can make other animals sick[
          • raw milk can infect susceptible animals, the researchers said - and that could also indicate a risk to humans.
        • Bias (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication