H5N1 Bird Flu Hits 34 U.S. Dairy Herds; Human, Cats Infected, Pasteurization Kills Virus

Apr 30, 2024, 10:10 PM

The H5N1 bird flu outbreak has been confirmed in 34 dairy cattle herds across nine U.S. states, significantly impacting Texas. This strain, known for its potential to infect multiple species, has been detected in one human and numerous farm animals, including cats, over half of which died after drinking raw milk from infected cows. Federal health officials have confirmed that pasteurization effectively inactivates the virus, though concerns remain about its presence in unpasteurized milk and its potential cross-species transmission. The situation has prompted intensified safety measures and surveillance, though the risk to public health is currently considered low.