California: avian influenza in raw milk tanks

On Saturday 14 December, tanks of raw milk produced in Stanislaus County were recalled from the Modesto dairy, Valley Milk Simply Bottled, after authorities found the H5N1 bird flu virus. All plastic containers of the quarter, half, and one-gallon sizes that had the date of 23rd to 30th December on them for the Valley Milk Simply Bottled and Desi Milk brands have been withdrawn from sale. To date, no confirmed outbreaks of H5N1 in humans have been identified in connection with any withdrawals of raw milk. There is only one suspected case of a seriously ill child in Marin County, apparently infected after drinking raw milk withdrawn from the market. The preliminary tests indicated a potential avian flu infection in the child, but the subsequent confirmation by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did not corroborate the presence of the virus. Consumers should not consume any product that has been subject to a recall. Furthermore, agricultural officials are urging retailers to remove immediately the product from their shelves.