The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday (Apr 26) that the current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus was low, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission, the news agency Reuters reported.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday (Apr 26) that the current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus was low, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission, the news agency Reuters reported. The WHO further said that countries should implement infection control measures and procedures to reduce human exposure to birds and mammals potentially infected with bird flu or other animal influenza viruses. The United Nations (UN) health agency also strongly advised people should consume only pasteurised milk. "The virus has been detected in milk and its potential role in transmission is being investigated," it added. Bird flu spread in US dairy cattle intensifies The WHO's warning came as Colorado became the latest state in the United States (US) to detect bird flu in dairy cattle. Infections in dairy cattle were previously reported in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, Idaho, New Mexico, North Carolina, and South Dakota. Also read | Pasteurised milk 'safe' from bird flu: US health officials Federal lawmakers urged the Joe Biden administration to further contain the virus' spread as tests showed one in five US commercial milk samples contained remnants of bird flu, Reuters reported. Pasturised milk safe from virus Also on Friday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that there was no reason to believe the virus found in milk possesses risk to human health, and American health authorities said that pasteurised milk sold in stores was safe from the virus. Starting on Monday (April 28), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will require dairy cows to test negative for bird flu before they are moved across state lines. (With inputs from agencies)

Bird flu risk is currently low: WHO urges countries to remain on alert

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Bird flu risk is currently low: WHO urges countries to remain on alert