Poultry World noted concerns that American milk and meat exports could spread the bird flu strain found in US cows to European Union countries.
This emerged from a report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which said that the virus genotype found in US cows had not been found in any country other than the US.
Bird flu had affected 981 dairy herds across 16 American states, EFSA reported.
EFSA scientists said the seasonal migration of wild birds and the importation of certain US products, such as those containing raw milk – could be potential routes for introducing this bird flu strain to Europe.
“The importation of dairy cows and bovine meat may also pose a potential route for virus introduction. However, the virus has rarely been detected in meat, animal imports are very limited, and strict trade regulations are in place for meat and live animals entering the EU.”
EFSA reported that cattle movement, low biosecurity and shared farm equipment had contributed to the virus’s spread in the US.
