In response to the recent outbreak of the bird flu virus in dairy cows, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has conducted tests on various dairy products, including cottage cheese and sour cream. The FDA announced on Wednesday that these products are safe to consume as the tests revealed no live virus that could pose a risk to human health.

The FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition conducted tests on 297 pasteurized retail dairy products after fragments of the virus were found in the commercial milk supply last week. While the results are still preliminary, they affirm the safety of the commercial milk supply in the United States. Don Prater, acting director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, emphasized this during a briefing, stating that the pasteurization process effectively inactivates the virus.

Samples for testing were collected from dairy products in 38 states across the country. Additionally, the FDA has examined powdered infant and toddler formulas and found no evidence of the bird flu virus. Although the exact number of formula samples tested was not disclosed, the FDA's findings confirm that the virus is effectively neutralized during the pasteurization process.

As of now, bird flu has been detected in 36 dairy herds spread across nine states, including Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio, and Texas. The origin of these cases appears to be herds in Texas, and the virus has subsequently spread as cattle have been moved across state lines to other farms. Dr. Rosemary Sifford, chief veterinary officer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, noted that around 10% of the cows in affected herds showed symptoms but eventually recovered within two weeks.

Dr. Sifford also stated that the virus spreads between cows through affected raw milk, which contains high levels of the virus. Although there is currently no evidence of easy human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 strain of bird flu, there is concern that prolonged exposure to mammals could lead to mutation and increased transmissibility. However, Sifford reassured that there haven't been any changes in the virus indicating a higher risk of spread among humans at this time.

Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, emphasized that the risk to the general public remains low. Only one case of the virus has been reported in a dairy worker in Texas, where the symptoms were mild, manifesting only as conjunctivitis. Approximately 25 individuals have been tested so far, with no indication of unusual flu activity or avian influenza among people.

It is worth noting that there have been reports of other dairy workers in Texas falling ill with symptoms such as fevers, body aches, upset stomach, and eye infections during the bird flu outbreak. However, no hospitalizations or deaths have been reported as of now.

The FDA continues to monitor the situation closely, conducting tests on raw milk and cautioning against the consumption of raw, unpasteurized milk. As of the latest findings, dairy products remain safe for consumption, providing reassurance to consumers concerned about the bird flu outbreak in dairy cows.