Bird Flu from Raw Milk?

Food for Thought Newsletter - Issue 002

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Can you get Bird Flu from Raw Milk?
• Bird Flu in the News - Will Alaska be affected? Is it going to be the next pandemic?
• Finding hope in uncertain times

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🥛 Raw Milk = Bird Flu?

 

CAN YOU GET THE BIRD FLU FROM RAW MILK? What a loaded question! And to be perfectly blunt, no one really knows. So if you’re looking for a concrete answer, check back in with me in a few months when there has been more testing done.

 

However, I do have some information and even some thoughts based on my research that may help you to understand a bit more about risks (or the lack thereof) of drinking raw milk.

 

 

First, there have only been four cases of bird flu in humans in America during this particular outbreak. All are dairy farm employees who work closely with cows who have tested positive for H5N1. From my understanding, all cases in humans have resulted in eye symptoms similar to pink eye. They were all treated and healed quickly. The information is vague but it seems one or two of the sick workers also experienced minor upper respiratory symptoms, fatigue, nausea, and other slight symptoms. All recovered quickly.

 

Something to note: ALL infected humans had close contact with sick animals but they did not consume the meat or milk from the sick animals

 

So what is bird flu and what does it present like in cattle?

 

I’m so glad you asked!

 

Bird Flu is a disease that started presenting in wild birds, slowly spread to domestic birds and now is spreading to cattle - primarily milk cows. Symptoms in cows include:

• Lack of appetite (reduced feed)
• Drop in milk production
• Changed consistency in milk (thick and creamy - similar to colostrum)

 

 

Seriously - WHO would drink this?

“I’m very concerned about non-pasteurized milk for salmonella and E. coli. But I’m not really that concerned about avian influenza.”

 

So even some experts aren’t worried about the transition of bird flu through raw milk. (and E. coli and salmonella can be avoided if your farmer keeps things clean)

 

However, not all experts see things the same. Michael D. Kleinhenz (DVM, PhD) is a dairy cattle veterinarian and clinical associate professor at Texas A&M said this:

 

"Raw milk, to me, is a very scary thing. I even recommend those who are feeding milk to their calves to pasteurize it."

 

Oh good grief. Pasteurize mama’s milk for baby calves? What next?

 

 

If you’re curious what the CDC and FDA currently advise about drinking raw milk, I was surprised to see that they aren’t completely ruling it out although they do make it clear they aren’t in favor of consumption of raw milk of any sort.

 

A peek at the CDC website today said that:

 

“People should also avoid unprotected exposures to animal poop, bedding (litter), unpasteurized (“raw”) milk, or materials that have been touched by, or close to, birds or other animals with suspected or confirmed A(H5N1) virus.”

 

The answer to this seems clear to me...

 

Don’t drink raw milk from sick cows (or play in their poop or their bedding) - even according to the CDC.

 

Kinda seems like - DUH.

 

This is yet another reason it’s so important to know your farmer.

 

I don’t know a single farmer who would give out raw milk if their cows are sick. And I don’t know of a single person who would drink milk that is thick and yellow and weird.

 

To me it’s that simple.

 

Our plan moving forward is to keep the conversation open with our farmer - who I trust with the health of my family, plus we will keep a good eye on our milk. If all is well, I’m going to trust that the sky is not falling and we will continue to enjoy the immense health-benefits of raw milk. ((but we aren’t advising you one way or another - you do you!))

 

PS.. I am very aware of the story about the cats who died supposedly from drinking raw milk from sick cows but there were so many inconsistencies and confusing details that make no sense (symptoms not consistent with H5N1, weird timing, etc) that I opted not to try to even sort it all out. It just doesn’t add up - at least not the reports that are out now.

 

PPS... I am also hearing rumblings from folks far smarter and deeper into the raw milk/farming movement that they believe this is laying the foundation for federal mandates against raw milk. I don’t have proof of this but I do know that currently states are making their own raw milk regulations. For instance, in Alaska you have to be part of a herd share and then it’s perfectly legal to buy raw milk.

 

Consumption of raw milk is growing rapidly so although it was sort of - overlooked - it seems raw milk drinkers are on the radar now, on a federal level.

 

This could soon become a matter of food freedom where we have to ask, “Do I have the right to choose my own food or not?”

 

Or as a farmer, “Do I have the right to sell to other consenting adults?”

 

We need to keep an eye on this.

 

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🗞️ Bird Flu In The News

 

What is the current news about bird flu?

 

Well, there was a new person infected with bird flu on July 3rd. However, this person was treated for pink eye (his only symptom) and is already better.

 

In Alaska, we did have a wild, young polar bear die of bird flu in 2023.

 

There was also a domestic bird flock in the Mat-Su valley that was infected with the virus in 2022 but otherwise all reports have been pretty minimal. There have been no reports of bird flu in cattle in Alaska nor have there been any human transitions.

 

The question often asked is “Will bird flu be the next pandemic?”

 

The answer is: Who knows?

 

Here’s what I do know - there are only a few families of viruses and all have excellent options for herbal treatment.

 

 

I have invited two different herbalists to talk with our audience and share their treatment suggestions and things to have on hand in case this particular virus starts to spread from human to human. Those talks are coming soon. 🙂

 

 

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🙏 Finding Hope

 

If you’ve been following the Amos Miller story or even saw the most recent news about the farm raid in Michigan, you may be feeling a little unsettled about where food freedom in America is headed.

 

From pandemics to unreasonable regulations being pushed on farmers to political uncertainty - this world seems a little upside down right now!

 

Sometimes it is hard to even tell the truth from the lies...

One truth is: The food system is broken. As is the healthcare system and most other systems in America. However, there is HOPE! And guess what - that hope lies on you and I to not just push the good forward - but to also create a better world for those who are coming up behind us.

 

And we can do just that!

 

But first, we need to face reality. Here are some things going awry:

• Fake meat is a complete boondoggle
• The plant based GMO monocrops are destroying microbiomes, both in the soil and in our gut!
• CAFOs are being exposed and we’re learning more and more about what is broken in our food system.
• We’ve lost 97% of our heirloom seed varieties
• There is always some sort of looming disaster: EMP collapse, pandemics, - you name it, it could go wrong!

 

I could go on and on but I don’t want to. I want to deliver a message of HOPE instead. So let’s talk about the strengths we have. Right here as Alaskans.

 

• We have clean air and clean water - that’s more than most of America!
• Our right to farm laws aren’t quite what I’d like them to be but, truthfully, we’re pretty free in our rights to grow food for our people.
• Most of our soil is safe and unpolluted from glyphosate.
• We’re learning how we can be more self-reliant.
• As we’re learning, we’re also building communities so we can be more community reliant, too!

 

Our culture is changing - and it’s changing for the better - and it’s because of an incredible movement that is happening – and YOU are a major part of that!

Here’s how I see it. We’re on the ground floor of a revolution. We’re capable of changing the tide. We already are!

 

By taking control of our food, our medical care, our families, and our communities, we’re creating a better world. If we embrace the adversity and band together, we can make a change that will be lasting.

What say you?