Avian flu in US cattle spread through milking, should Europe sound the alarm?

A recent study published in the scientific journal Nature has revealed that the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) can spread among dairy cattle through their udders and milk, causing severe symptoms in cows and potentially leading to a more widespread outbreak in the agricultural industry. Conducted by a team of researchers from the United States and Germany, the study involved experimentally infecting calves and dairy cows with the H5N1 virus, documenting the virus's accumulation in the milk and udders of the animals, and noting the severe health impacts on cows, including mastitis and a significant drop in milk production. The research indicates that milk and milking procedures may play a key role in the transmission of the virus among cattle, raising concerns about the potential for the virus to adapt and spread more easily among dairy herds, especially with the identification of an adaptive mutation following intramammary replication. These findings underscore the need for increased vigilance and precautions to prevent the spread of avian influenza among cattle, especially in light of the ongoing outbreak in Europe that has affected several states in the United States, highlighting the importance of implementing effective biosecurity measures to prevent the virus from infiltrating farms and causing widespread disruption to the dairy industry.