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Properly prepared hamburgers present no bird influenza risk, US research study discovers

No bird flu infection was found after cooking hamburger to medium to well done, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in an instruction on Thursday after conducting a study as it addresses concerns over a break out of the illness in dairy livestock.

The findings, in which researchers injected high levels of an H5N1 bird flu virus surrogate into hamburger, indicate that effectively cooking hamburgers to a temperature level of about 145 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit (63 to 71 degrees Celsius) keeps them safe for customers.

In the cooking experiment, which was planned to further ensure consumers of the safety of U.S. hamburger, hamburgers heated up to 120 degrees F - or rare - showed the infection surrogate was present at lowered levels, the USDA stated.

The agriculture department (USDA) previously stated 30 samples of hamburger from retail outlets tested negative for H5N1 infection which the U.S. meat supply is safe.

The USDA also announced that it was awarding more than $22.2. million to bolster the country's capability to respond and control. animal disease outbreaks such as H5N1 bird influenza, consisting of. boosting lab capability.

The U.S. has confirmed bird influenza in dairy livestock in nine. states since late March. Older dairy cattle are frequently processed. into ground beef.

Researchers have actually stated they think the outbreak is more. extensive based upon U.S. Food and Drug Administration findings. of H5N1 particles in about 20% of retail milk samples. The FDA. has actually said tests of retail dairy samples were negative for practical. H5N1 bird influenza infection but cautioned against consuming raw. unpasteurized milk.

The hamburger experiment results come simply ahead of the. start of peak barbecuing season with the U.S. Memorial Day weekend. later this month.

WASTEWATER MONITORING

Nirav Shah, primary deputy director of the U.S. Centers. for Illness Control and Avoidance (CDC), informed reporters the. firm's freshly posted wastewater detection dashboard on. influenza A, of which H5N1 bird influenza is a subtype, has identified. high levels of virus in Illinois and Florida, which have not yet. reported positive cases in dairy cattle.

Shah said the wastewater data in concert with the milk. findings recommend that there may be herds that are harboring. H5N1 but have not yet checked favorable.

Wastewater tests can not figure out the source of the virus,. which could be from people, contaminated milk or farm overflow. Scientists are closely expecting modifications in the infection that. could make it spread out more easily among humans.

The CDC has actually not identified any increased rates of H5N1 in. individuals, Shah stated, adding that the agency is dealing with regional. officials to comprehend why these wastewater sites reveal. higher-than-expected levels of influenza A.

At the dairy farm level, so far we have actually not seen. corresponding reports, however those investigations are still. underway, Shah stated.

The CDC has actually urged states to provide protective equipment to all. slaughterhouse workers, and anyone associated with the production of. milk, including in states without positive herds.

He said CDC up until now has actually not had any private farm workers. take up the firm's deal last week of $75 payment to. take part in research studies of the outbreak.

We're not quiting hope. We are in continuous discussion. with a number of states, he said.

One dairy farm employee in Texas checked positive for the virus. in the existing outbreak and reported conjunctivitis. The CDC has. stated the risk to the general public is low, however the risk to. people with exposure to contaminated birds or animals, including. cows, is higher.

(source: Reuters)