The USDA confirms that ground beef has tested free of the H5N1 avian flu virus.

The USDA has verified that ground beef is free from the H5N1 avian flu virus, providing assurance regarding food safety and alleviating concerns about potential contamination with the virus.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Wednesday that all ground beef samples submitted for PCR testing at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) have tested negative for the H5N1 avian flu virus. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) gathered 30 ground beef samples from retail outlets located in states where dairy cattle herds tested positive for H5N1 at the time of sampling.

According to the USDA, NVSL's findings indicated that none of the samples contained the H5N1 virus, reinforcing the safety of the meat supply. This reassurance follows federal efforts to verify the safety of dairy and meat products following the identification of H5N1 in 34 dairy cattle herds across nine states since late March, along with a confirmed case in a Texas individual.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) disclosed that preliminary tests on additional dairy products suggest that pasteurization effectively deactivates the bird flu virus. Although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have stated that the overall public health risk remains low, individuals with exposure to infected animals face a slightly elevated risk.

Scientists remain vigilant for any mutations in the H5N1 virus that could enhance its ability to spread among humans. Historically, this virus has caused severe infections in individuals in close contact with wild birds or poultry. Given its pandemic potential, any transmission to new mammalian species raises significant concerns.

Source: Reuters‍