Blythe Terrell

I mean, one virologist actually told me that people in his science community, they would like test cows for influenza A and he would like laugh at them because he was like, it was so dumb to think that a cow could get this kind of flu.

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And because of this, it was like actually really impressive how scientists figured out that it was bird flu in the first place. So, Wendy, we were lucky to have some very clever nerds on the case. And yeah, and it basically started with some dairy cows in Texas that were looking a bit sick. They were eating less. They were like maybe pumping out a little bit less milk.

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And because of this, it was like actually really impressive how scientists figured out that it was bird flu in the first place. So, Wendy, we were lucky to have some very clever nerds on the case. And yeah, and it basically started with some dairy cows in Texas that were looking a bit sick. They were eating less. They were like maybe pumping out a little bit less milk.

And they actually had mastitis in their udders.

And they actually had mastitis in their udders.

Okay, so these veterinarians, they ran their tests. They did their thing. They were like, okay, is it this? Is it this? It doesn't seem to be any of these infections we thought it was. Right. And they were like pretty confused.

Okay, so these veterinarians, they ran their tests. They did their thing. They were like, okay, is it this? Is it this? It doesn't seem to be any of these infections we thought it was. Right. And they were like pretty confused.

Whoa. This is like house. This is like... Yeah. Like, right? It's super... Whoa. Detective work. Right. And then, of course, they work out that it's bird flu.

Whoa. This is like house. This is like... Yeah. Like, right? It's super... Whoa. Detective work. Right. And then, of course, they work out that it's bird flu.

Yeah, right, which is like kind of crazy. And what's interesting here is that they didn't just like pop a swab up the cow's nose and swirl it around in there. They also tested the milk.

Yeah, right, which is like kind of crazy. And what's interesting here is that they didn't just like pop a swab up the cow's nose and swirl it around in there. They also tested the milk.

The virus that is actually in the milk is alive. Are we drinking it? If you are drinking pasteurized milk... Pasteurization does seem to kill the virus. Okay. From everything I've found. Like there's already, there's been a lot of research on this where they're like the pasteurization process seems to make the milk safe.

The virus that is actually in the milk is alive. Are we drinking it? If you are drinking pasteurized milk... Pasteurization does seem to kill the virus. Okay. From everything I've found. Like there's already, there's been a lot of research on this where they're like the pasteurization process seems to make the milk safe.

Now, where you might run into problems, Wendy, is if you are drinking raw milk. Yes. Which is, the whole point of it is it's not pasteurized, right? Right. For real, it is like not a good idea to be drinking that right now. Like people are playing with fire because they could be straight up drinking bird flu. Got it.

Now, where you might run into problems, Wendy, is if you are drinking raw milk. Yes. Which is, the whole point of it is it's not pasteurized, right? Right. For real, it is like not a good idea to be drinking that right now. Like people are playing with fire because they could be straight up drinking bird flu. Got it.

Correct. If you take nothing else away, Wendy, take that away from this. Take it away. Yeah. And the same goes for unpasteurized cheese, by the way. Oh. Yeah. And we actually do know that eating bird flu virus, like it can get animals sick. Yeah. And in fact, it's one way that cats are getting it by drinking raw milk or eating raw pet food.

Correct. If you take nothing else away, Wendy, take that away from this. Take it away. Yeah. And the same goes for unpasteurized cheese, by the way. Oh. Yeah. And we actually do know that eating bird flu virus, like it can get animals sick. Yeah. And in fact, it's one way that cats are getting it by drinking raw milk or eating raw pet food.

And raw pet food, which can be like stuff like ground up chickens or turkeys, that has made some cats sick and some of them have died. Oh, and eggs.

And raw pet food, which can be like stuff like ground up chickens or turkeys, that has made some cats sick and some of them have died. Oh, and eggs.

Yeah, they say basically as long as you're, you know, cooking up your eggs well, they think eggs are safe.