For the first time, officials have detected bird flu in beef, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Officials with the USDA shared that the H5N1 virus was found as part of the testing of 96 dairy cows that were diverted from the supply because federal inspectors noticed that they were showing signs of illness while inspecting them.
While the virus was detected, officials shared that the meat was not allowed to enter the nation’s food supply, meaning that beef remains safe to consume.
Among the cows inspected by investigators, bird flu was found in only one of the 96.
The current strain of this bird flu outbreak, which began in 2022, is leaving officials perplexed after it was confirmed to have sickened dairy cattle herds in nine states and prompted the deaths of millions of chickens and turkeys.
After it was discovered in dairy cows, the agency began testing ground beef for bird flu at retail stores. So far, no signs of the virus have been detected.
Still, if they do detect it in consumer beef, the USDA says that cooking the meat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit will kill the virus, the same temperature that kills E. coli and other viruses.
Health officials continue to stress that the danger to the public remains low, but those working on farms who are exposed to animals that are infected face the highest risk.