217 Today: A study finds the bird flu could survive pasteurization

New research suggests that some of the bird flu virus could survive the pasteurization process. But the researchers say we don't know how that translated into real life. For now, health experts affirm commercial milk is safe. The biggest concern right now is raw, unpasteurized milk.

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Today’s headlines:

  • Illinois reactions to the U-S Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity – predictably – fell along party lines.
  • Western Illinois University is letting go of three dozen faculty members.
  • Governor J.B. Pritzker is defending the state’s decision to close aging prisons in Lincoln and Joliet.
  • Petersen Health Care’s nearly 100 nursing homes will go up for auction Tuesday morning.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn more about recent research that suggests pasteurization may not be successful in killing the H5N1 virus, also known as the bird flu.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today contributed by Alex Degman, Rich Egger, Eric Stock, Tim Shelley and Ben Throp. 

Stephanie Mosqueda

Stephanie Mosqueda is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with minors in Spanish and public relations. She is the 217 Today producer and a reporter for the Illinois Student Newsroom.