Recently, a USDA test involving a substitute H5N1 bird flu virus highlights the potential dangers of consuming uncommon burgers.
To assess the effectiveness of safe food handling guidelines following the discovery of the H5N1 bird flu virus in dairy cows, the USDA conducted a series of tests. They combined a stand-in virus with ground beef, heating patties at different times and temperatures. The results were fascinating - not a trace of the virus was detected in medium-cooked or well-done burgers heated to approximately 145 and 160°F (160 and 180°C), respectively. However, the virus was found in patties cooked to 120°F (around 50°C), which would be considered rare meat. Nevertheless, the presence of the virus in these patties was scarce, said Eric Deeble, a senior adviser for highly pathogenic avian influenza at the USDA.
Nobody can say for sure if this minuscule quantity could cause illness. The USDA recommends cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F to prevent infections from bacteria, like salmonella and E. coli, Deeble added. He believes there's no need to modify any safe food handling or cooking practices already advocated.
The USDA allocated $22 million to safeguard animal health. The substantial majority of this investment will support the Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network. New machinery and evolved laboratory capacities will benefit from this funding.
From May 6-May 12, the National Animal Health Laboratory Network conducted 1,100 H5N1 bird flu tests in cattle. Out of these, 278 were suspected positive, although the precise number of animals tested and those becoming positive is uncertain because some samples are drawn from the same animal or tests may be combined. Over 600 tests were carried out on cattle and dairy herds moving between states, and around 450 were conducted on ill animals.
The USDA received numerous proposals from producers seeking support to prevent the spread of the virus on their farms. However, even though they have financial assistance programs in place, completed legal papers for farmers to enlist haven't been prepared yet. Deeble expects these forms to be complete by the middle of the following week.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) failed to locate farmworkers for research projects examining how bird flu transmits in dairy farms. Dr. Nirav Shah, CDC's deputy principal director, stated, "We're not throwing in the towel. We're in constant communication with various states. We're progressing but have not crossed the finish line as of yet."
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The USDA's findings suggest that cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F can help prevent infections from viruses like the H5N1 bird flu, as no trace was detected in well-done burgers. Despite detecting the virus in patties cooked to 120°F, the quantity found was minimal, according to Eric Deeble.
Source: edition.cnn.com
