I recently did a detailed article on the how American news coverage and policies are tainted with hysteria and panic.
One of the subjects was the unfolding developments related to the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, aka “bird flu”). As I have noted many times, the risk to humans is low and I am more concerned about the impact on the food supply.
I also recently reviewed how an unelected bureaucrat (Dr. Deborah Birx) developed and implemented catastrophic covid policies based on fear that undermined the efforts of President Donald Trump to reopen the country after “15 days to slow the spread”.
Now comes one report that a former Food and Drug Administration official is recommending that Americans avoid rare meat and runny eggs because there’s a small risk of catching bird flu from infected meat or poultry products.
That is the advice of former FDA food safety advisor Dr Darin Detwiler who said animal products that are not properly cooked could harbor small fragments of the virus which is currently tearing through US farms.That means steak should be cooked well done and eggs with runny yolks should be avoided. Even salad dressings like Caesar can be a risk due to being made with raw eggs, he said….Dr Detwiler told DailyMail.com: ‘Transmission of bird flu to humans through the consumption of properly cooked poultry products, including eggs, is very low.But ‘the risk arises with improperly cooked eggs or poultry meat,’ he added.
Detwiler also recommended people avoid sauces, salad dressing, and desserts that used raw eggs. The food safety expert also offered additional guidance on eggs.
To safely handle eggs means to store them in a refrigerator at 40°F or colder as soon as you come home from the grocery store to prevent the growth of bacteria, Detwiler said.You also want to avoid using eggs that are cracked or dirty. And remember to wash your hands, utensils and surfaces with soap and water after they come into contact with raw eggs.
In other words, Americans should continue to follow good food safety practices that have been recommended for years.
Good thing I have retired from cooking. I have less to worry about. But, I digress.
To be fair to Detwiler, he is a safety expert who was asked by “journalists” to give his guidance after bird flu was reported in cattle. I don’t think his remarks were unreasonable in that context.
But the chances are substantially higher of infection with other pathogens if food safety practices aren’t followed. I am concerned that the media is failing, once again, to offer the proper level of risk assessment on another virus.
Humans get infections from bird flu cows and poultry are by close and lengthy contact with an infected animal’s bodily fluids. So, the humans most at risk are the ranchers and poultry farmers handling the live animals.
As we saw with Birx, motivated bureaucrats can use today’s crisis to justify tomorrow’s liberty crushing policy. While Detwiler is no longer with the FDA, I am concerned about the regulators who are in that agency and what they may recommend regardless of the level of risk.
I am extremely mindful that our meat industry has been under the radar of government eco-activists for some time because of “carbon emissions”. I am worried about the justifications that could be made because of ginned up fears about the bird flu….especially with a media willing to suppress challenges to questionable science.
One veterinarian offers an intriguing alternative name for the virus: Low pathogenic bovine influenza (LPBI).
However, Kay Russo, DVM, MAHM, DACPV, believes now that the virus has appeared in dairy cattle in the United States, people need to be more intentional with what they call it. Russo explained why on April 5, while speaking during the webinar, “Managing Novel Disease Introduction and Biosecuity Practices to Protect Herd Health.”“In my opinion, the disease in cattle at this point should not be referred to as highly pathogenic avian influenza,” said Russo. “I believe it can no longer be considered highly pathogenic avian influenza, given its low mortality, and the fact that it was isolated from a bovine source. It should simply be referred to as either H5N1, or perhaps low pathogenic bovine influenza, at this point in time.”
I like that thought! However, I doubt it will be picked up my our histrionic press and our crisis-loving bureaucrats.
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