[JACK AYLMER]
THE LATEST HOTSPOT FOR BIRD FLU IN THE U-S, CALIFORNIA, ANNOUNCING TUESDAY, IT’S EXPANDING A RECALL OF RAW MILK PRODUCTS TO COVER THE ENTIRE STATE.
THE MOVE COMES AFTER RECENT TESTS DETECTED BIRD FLU IN TWO RETAIL SAMPLES FROM THE NATION’S LARGEST RAW MILK DAIRY.
CALIFORNIA HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE PRODUCTS INCLUDE ALL MILK AND CREAM FROM RAW FARM, WHICH ITS OWNER ESTIMATES PRODUCES 70-THOUSAND GALLONS OF MILK WEEKLY FROM MORE THAN 17-HUNDRED COWS.
STATE OFFICIALS HAVE PUT THE COMPANY’S OPERATION UNDER QUARANTINE AND HALTED ANY DISTRIBUTION OF ALL ITS PRODUCTS INCLUDING CHEESES AND BUTTER MADE ON OR AFTER NOVEMBER 27TH.
LAST MONTH, THE STATE ISSUED TWO VOLUNTARY BATCH-SPECIFIC RECALLS AFTER BIRD FLU WAS DISCOVERED AT THE COMPANY’S BOTTLING AND RETAIL SITES.
THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT URGES ANYONE WORKING WITH RAW MILK OR POTENTIALLY INFECTED COWS TO WEAR PROTECTIVE GEAR.
THE GOLDEN STATE IS THE EPICENTER OF THE AVIAN FLU WITH 31 OF THE NATION’S 57 CONFIRMED HUMAN CASES, AND HOME TO 500 OF THE U-S’ MORE THAN 700 INFECTED DAIRY HERDS.
SO FAR, NO HUMAN CASES HAVE BEEN LINKED TO RAW MILK CONSUMPTION IN CALIFORNIA.
BUT THE F-D-A RECOMMENDS NOT DRINKING RAW MILK DUE TO THE RISK OF BIRD FLU AND OTHER ILLNESSES ASSOCIATED WITH ITS CONSUMPTION.
HEALTH OFFICIALS DO WARN PET OWNERS NOT TO FEED THEIR ANIMALS RAW FARM PRODUCTS.
NOTING, CASES OF CATS ON FARMS WITH INFECTED COWS HAVING DEVELOPED BRAIN DAMAGE AND DYING AFTER DRINKING CONTAMINATED RAW MILK.
THE AGENCY MAINTAINS PASTEURIZED MILK IS STILL SAFE TO DRINK AS THE PASTEURIZATION PROCESS KILLS THE VIRUS.
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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M JACK AYLMER.