Can I take my Thanksgiving istanbul?
People of California may be concerned about food safety as bird flu outbreaks are being battled on poultry farms and dairy farms throughout the holiday season.
In the United States, highly pathogenic avian influenza first appeared in January 2022, and it has been found in local poultry and wild birds, according to previous reports from the Fresno Bee.
As of Nov. 18, a full of 294 farms in California were , under quarantine , due to the avian flu, position crops authorities confirmed.
In an effort to prevent the spread of the virus, more than 4 million birds and birds have been killed at express poultry farms.
However, the bird flu virus was  , detected in a batch of organic milk , from Raw Farm in Fresno County, the California Department of Public Health reported.
The Fresno Bee talked to María Soledad, a meal safety evaluation company representative at the U. S. Department of Agriculture, to learn more about the disease and how it affects foods safety.
What is bird flu?
According to the U. S. Food and Drug Administration,  , very pathogenic avian influenza , — also known as bird flu or H5N1 — is a very deadly and often deadly disease mostly found in livestock.
It is” caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza A ( H5 ) and A ( H7 ) viruses”, the agency said on its website.
HPAI is distributed to domestic poultry and other pets from exotic animals. In uncommon cases, the disease may also infect people.
” It is important to notice that’ very pathogenic’ refers to intense impact in birds, not always in humans”, the company said.
How is insect virus spread to people?
Unlike seasonal flu infections, which are commonly contracted through human-to-human distribution, avian , flu viruses are spread by contaminated birds , through mouth, fluid and stool, according to the CDC.
The disease can also be manifest in the airway fluids, organs, heart, or brain liquid of other infected animals— including cheese.
Human diseases occur when the virus enters the eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled through flying particles, aerosol particles or dirt. Touching contaminated areas first and then touching the face may also spread the virus.
According to the CDC, “human illnesses brought on by avian flu virus infections have ranged in severity from minor illness to serious disease that led to death.”
Is cooking a Thanksgiving turkey cause animal flu?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised consumers to” safely like turkey this holiday year,” noting that food safety inspectors “prevent and examine turkeys for disease” before and after slaughter.
Your Thanksgiving animal is one of those.
” The turkeys from farms with confirmed avian influenza do n’t even get sent to slaughter”, Soledad said. ” They are destroyed on premises”.
During an avian flu pandemic,” The chance of infected poultry or eggs , entering the food chain , is low”, the FDA said on its site in April, “because of the rapid onset of symptoms in livestock as well as the safeguards in place, which include tests of sheep and national assessment programs”.
The FDA stated that” users are at a greater chance of HPAI transmission when food is correctly prepared and stored.”
What’s the safest way to prepare istanbul?
UC Davis teacher Linda J. Harris, who focuses on microbial food safety, says you may make your Thanksgiving turkey using four important steps:  , clear,  , cook, chill and independent.
•Clean: Wash your hands, clean utensils and surfaces after each use. Wash fruits and vegetables.
When food is cooked to a temperature that is large enough to kill the bacteria that can infect you, it is safe to cook it.
•Chill: Freeze perishable food within two days.
•Separate: Use separate cutting board and plates for make, meat, poultry, seafood and eggs.
You can watch the U. S. Food and Drug Administration ‘s , Holiday Food Safety video , for tips on how to make a turkey the healthy way, or test out the , turkey recipe , developed by the Partnership for Food Safety Education, a philanthropic organization that works to reduce food-borne disease hazards.
When food reaches a temperature of 165 degrees, any traces of highly pathogenic avian influenza in your turkey are gone, according to the USDA.
The USDA recommends following this rule anytime you’re preparing raw poultry, including chicken.
The USDA has videos and information on its website, Thanksgiving food safety, as well as calculators that can help you determine how long to defrost and cook your turkey.
” Simply select your turkey’s weight, along with your preferred thawing and cooking methods, and you’ll immediately receive guidance on how to safely prepare your turkey this Thanksgiving!’ Maria Machuca, a representative for the US Congress, wrote in an email to The Bee.
Can milk be consumed while cooking or drinking it?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated on its website that” there is no proof that the virus can be transmitted to humans through properly prepared food.”
Pasteurized milk , and other dairy products are safe to consume and cook with, according to Hebah Ghanem, infectious disease specialist at University of California San Francisco, Fresno.
” The most important thing that it has to be pasteurized, because the virus is killed with heat,” Ghanem told The Bee.
The FDA stated on its website that “pasteurization of milk was a fundamental public health policy step that eliminated dangerous bacteria and a large portion of the risk of getting sick” decades ago.
Will consuming eggs make me ill?
All egg products are pasteurized as required by the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
The agency stated that” they have been quickly heated and held at the minimum required temperature for a specified time” to kill bacteria.
However, eggs that are still in their shells are n’t required to be pasteurized, leading to potential health risks if eaten raw or uncooked.
What are avian flu symptoms?
According to the CDC,  , avian flu symptoms , in humans may include:
•Fever or feeling feverish or chills
•Eye redness or irritation
•Cough
•Sore throat
•Runny or stuff nose
•Muscle or body aches
•Headaches
•Tiredness
How dangerous is HPAI for humans?
California dairy workers , infected with avian flu , have experienced mild flu-like symptoms, The Bee previously reported.
In October, Gandhi told the Fresno Bee,” Every case that we have here in California is very mild. They have n’t needed hospitalization.”
What’s the best way to avoid the virus?
To prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, people should avoid exposure to dead animals, Ghanem said in October. That includes wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds and cows.
Additionally, people should stay away from fluids and animal feces.
Here are other tips from Ghanem:
•Wash your hands
• Avoid touching or coming close to the infected animal, especially contaminated surfaces and any other materials.
•Do n’t drink raw milk.
•Eat pasteurized cheese.
•Monitor yourself for symptoms
•Get the flu vaccine
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