USDA says it is testing beef for H5N1 bird flu virus

Food safety officials in the United States are conducting beef safety studies to test for the presence of the H5N1 bird flu virus. This comes after dairy cattle in certain states tested positive for the avian influenza virus. The studies include sampling ground beef purchased from grocery stores and taking samples from sick cows. Cooking studies are also being conducted to determine the effectiveness of different heat settings in killing the virus. Colombia has placed restrictions on beef imports from US states affected by avian influenza, which the US Beef Export Foundation considers to be without scientific basis. The USDA assures consumers that the meat supply is safe but advises proper handling and cooking of raw meats to eliminate bacteria and viruses.