Bird Flu Found In Raw Milk Leads To Recall In California

Bird flu has been detected in a batch of raw milk sold in California and a voluntary recall of the milk has been issued at the request of the state's department of public health. 

The Details: The virus was found during testing of a batch of whole raw milk from Raw Farm in Fresno county. The company has issued a voluntary recall of the batch, which has a “best by date” of Nov. 27. 

"Out of an abundance of caution, and due to the ongoing spread of bird flu in dairy cows, poultry, and sporadic human cases, consumers should not consume any of the affected raw milk," the California Department of Public Health said in a Sunday statement. 

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California reported 29 confirmed human cases of bird flu since early October, with 28 of the cases resulting from direct contact with infected dairy cows. No person-to-person spread of bird flu has been detected in California or the U.S., according to the state's public health department. 

Vaccine Efforts: As concern about the possible spread of bird flu grows, the U.S. government is increasing its efforts to develop a stockpile of vaccines for the disease. 

Moderna MRNA received a $176 million government contract in July to advance development of its bird flu vaccine, leveraging the same mRNA technology used in the company's COVID-19 vaccine.  

In October, the Department of Health and Human Services granted GSK plc GSK, Sanofi SA SNY and Australian firm CSL Limited $72 million to more than double the U.S. supply of bird flu vaccines. 

According to the CDC, 55 total cases have been reported in the 2024 bird flu outbreak in the U.S. The CDC said that it is monitoring the bird flu situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures, though the current public health risk is low.

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