In an update from the organization on Friday, it is stated that people who have been exposed to infected birds or animals only have a low to moderate risk of developing infection.
Nevertheless, the WHO encourages countries to implement infection control measures and reduce human exposure to birds and animals that could potentially be infected by the virus.
It is emphasized that people should only drink pasteurized milk, where bacteria and viruses have been killed, and avoid drinking raw milk straight from the animals.
Bird flu in American milk
– The virus has been discovered in milk, and we are investigating the role it may have in spreading infection, says the WHO in a statement.
In the United States, one in five commercial milk samples contained particles of bird flu, according to a nationwide survey by the US health authority FDA. They suggested on Thursday that the outbreak of H5N1 is more widespread in the United States than previously thought.
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The USA has taken measures to limit further infection among dairy cows in the country. So far, infection has been detected among cows on 33 dairy farms in eight different states.
No evidence of infection to humans
There is currently no evidence that the new bird flu spreads between humans. However, the WHO has said previously that they found it extremely worrying that the infection is so large among birds and mammals.
Experts have been surprised that the virus can infect mammals such as cows and goats, when it was thought that they were not susceptible to the disease.
