Avian flu virus detected in bovine tissues

Muscle from a sick dairy cow tested positive for the virus. The meat did not enter the commercial food supply, which officials said remained safe.

Beef tissues from a sick dairy cow were tested positive for the avian flu virus, federal officials said. Friday.

The cow had been sentenced to slaughter because it was sick, and the meat had not entered the food supply, according to the ministry American Department of Agriculture. The department continued to emphasize that the commercial food supply remained safe.

But the positive test, which is part of an ongoing federal study into the safety of the beef, raises concerns about whether the virus could find its way into the commercial beef supply, posing a risk to human health.

So far the virus, known as H5N1, has only been detected in dairy cattle and not in beef cattle raised for meat. But experts say the outbreak is larger than the official count of 58 dairy herds affected in nine states.

"It is clear that this situation is widespread and will require constant vigilance," said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, an advocacy organization.

Overall, he said , he believed the risk to consumers remained low. But, he added, "it will be important for consumers to ensure they are cooking meat at the correct temperature for added assurance."

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