Study Suggests H5N1 in Pasteurized Milk May Offer Protection; CDC Calls for Enhanced Monitoring

Oct 16, 2024, 09:52 AM

A recent study has explored the effects of oral exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 pasteurized in milk on immune response and mortality in mice. The study suggests that ingestion of H5N1 contaminated pasteurized milk may provide some degree of protection. Additionally, there is an emphasis on the need to decentralize testing for H5N1 to better understand the extent of its spread and epidemiological parameters. Research indicates that the mammary glands of cows display receptors for circulating avian H5 viruses. Dairy cows inoculated with H5N1 B3.13 showed mild symptoms in Holstein yearling heifers, production losses, lesions in mammary tissue, and seroconversion in lactating cows. The CDC reports that H5N1 remains infectious in unpasteurized milk for over four days but is inactivated in one day in unpasteurized colostrum milk. With increased detection of H5N1 cases in humans and animals, experts are calling for enhanced monitoring and containment measures.