Pasteurization inactivates highly infectious avian flu in milk, study suggests

Pasteurization inactivates highly infectious avian flu in milk, study suggests

In March 2024, dairy cows in Texas were found to be infected with highly pathogenic avian flu, or H5N1 bird flu, in the first known case of the virus spreading to cattle. Since then, H5N1 has been found in about 200 animals — and 3 people — across 12 states, according to the Centers for … Read more

Bird flu stays stable on milking equipment for at least one hour

Pasteurization inactivates highly infectious avian flu in milk, study suggests

Bird flu, or H5N1 virus, in unpasteurized milk is stable on metal and rubber components of commercial milking equipment for at least one hour, increasing its potential to infect people and other animals, report researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Emory University in Emerging Infectious Diseases. The study underscores the heightened … Read more

Infectious H5N1 influenza virus in raw milk rapidly declines with heat treatment

Pasteurization inactivates highly infectious avian flu in milk, study suggests

The amount of infectious H5N1 influenza viruses in raw milk rapidly declined with heat treatment in laboratory research conducted by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. However, small, detectable amounts of infectious virus remained in raw milk samples with high virus levels when … Read more