Raw Milk Suspended: Is Bird Flu the Culprit?

In a surprising move, California's agriculture department halted the distribution of Raw Farm's raw dairy products. This decision came after tests showed that some cows might have bird flu, specifically the H5N1 strain. Despite this, already-sold products can still be bought in stores. When the virus was first detected, Raw Farm's owner, Mark McAfee, wasn't sure if his cows were infected. He said they didn't show typical symptoms. But after further testing, it was found that some cows had the virus. Experts are worried because H5N1 keeps spreading unexpectedly. Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist, fears this could lead to a pandemic. McAfee is still encouraging people to buy his products. He believes that if enough cows get infected, they might develop immunity. But experts aren't sure if this would work for humans. President-elect Trump's pick for Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , supports raw milk. But bird flu cases in California's dairy herds are rising, with 474 herds testing positive since August. Nationwide, 688 dairy herds in 15 states have been affected.