In a recent development, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has reported the identification of highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu, in a dairy herd in North Carolina. The presence of the virus was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL), which had previously detected bird flu in dairy herds across several states, including Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Idaho, New Mexico, and Ohio.

To prevent the further spread of the virus, the movement of cattle from affected herds in the aforementioned states to North Carolina has been temporarily suspended. It is important to note that milk bought in North Carolina is required by law to be pasteurized, a process that effectively eliminates the risk of bird flu transmission if any milk from an infected herd were to enter the supply.

Steve Troxler, the state's agriculture commissioner, reassured the public that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expressed no concerns regarding the safety or availability of pasteurized milk products nationwide. Troxler emphasized the importance of collaboration between federal partners, dairy farmers in North Carolina, and state authorities to develop protocols for handling this situation, considering that handling bird flu in dairy herds is a relatively new challenge compared to dealing with the virus in poultry.

Throughout multiple states, outbreaks of avian flu have been reported, with the virus potentially spreading to other animals, such as cattle. However, Dr. Michael Martin, the state veterinarian for North Carolina, emphasized that the risk of human infection remains extremely low. He explained that any milk originating from an infected cow is promptly disposed of and highlighted the effectiveness of pasteurization, which kills various types of bacteria and viruses, including bird flu. Health officials strongly advise against consuming raw milk, which is prohibited for sale in North Carolina.

Both the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services stated that the overall risk to the general public remains low, and there are no concerns about the safety of the commercial milk supply as all products undergo pasteurization before entering the market. It is critical for individuals to refrain from consuming or preparing food with raw or unpasteurized milk.

In other instances of avian flu in North Carolina, a poultry farm in Johnston County had to euthanize approximately 32,000 turkeys preventively after a positive sample within the flock was detected in March 2022. This marked the first case of bird flu in domestic poultry in the state. Furthermore, North Carolina made headlines as the first state to report bird flu spreading to a black bear in 2022. Wildlife biologist Greg Batts explained that animals like bears or hawks contract the virus by consuming infected waterfowl or other carcasses.

The state authorities continue to monitor and provide updates on the bird flu situation in North Carolina. The public is encouraged to stay informed by referring to the official channels for the latest updates and guidance.

Note: The given information has been condensed and paraphrased to create a news article.