### California Halts Distribution of Raw Farm Dairy Products Amid Bird Flu Concerns

**Fresno, CA** — State agriculture officials have imposed a ban on the distribution of raw dairy products from Raw Farm, a Fresno-based producer, following concerns over potential bird flu infections among its cattle. Despite the ban, products already on store shelves will remain available for sale, except for two recent limited recalls.

The decision to halt the distribution stems from contradictory test results regarding the presence of the H5N1 virus, which causes bird flu, in Raw Farm's milk. Santa Clara County public health officials detected positive samples from bottled milk, while state agriculture tests on bulk milk yielded negative results. However, recent tests conducted on the farm have confirmed positive results, according to Raw Farm owner Mark McAfee.

McAfee revealed the detection of asymptomatic infection among his cattle, noting that although a few cows showed signs of illness on October 10, they did not initially test positive for the virus and were removed from the herd. McAfee employs advanced monitoring devices to track various health metrics of his cattle, but it remains uncertain how long the infected cows were separated or if they were tested again for H5N1.

Jennifer Nuzzo, a professor of epidemiology at Brown University, expressed significant concern over the spread of H5N1, warning of its potential pandemic threat if it continues to surprise experts by appearing in unexpected places. The virus has infected 55 Americans this year, mostly affecting dairy and poultry workers exposed to farm animals. Notably, a child in Alameda County was among those infected, although the source remains unidentified.

The state's agriculture department has instructed McAfee to stop sales to retailers, and health officials from Los Angeles County have expanded the list of stores carrying potentially contaminated products. Despite these measures, McAfee urges consumers to stock up on raw milk, expressing hope that an eventual herd immunity might develop among his cattle.

The spread of bird flu to raw milk has raised alarms among health experts like Richard Webby of the World Health Organization's Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza, who cautioned against the risks involved in consuming raw milk from infected cows. While some animals did not contract the virus from infected milk, the risks for humans remain inadequately understood.

President-elect Donald Trump's nomination for Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has previously voiced support for increased access to raw milk, adding a political dimension to the public health concerns. Since August, 474 dairy herds in California, nearly half of the state's herds, have tested positive for bird flu, part of a broader outbreak affecting 688 dairy herds across 15 states.