Retail Milk Monitoring of Influenza A(H5N1) in Dairy Cattle, United States, 2024–2025

2026/01/30 by Natalie N. Tarbuck, John Franks, Jeremy C. Jones +11 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Medicine · #Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology #Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) #Dairy industry #Influenza A virus #Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 #Influenza Virus Research Studies #Milk products #Respiratory viral infections research #Retail sales #Seasonal influenza

paper · doi:10.3201/eid3202.251332

openalex publication_date 2026/01/30 · openalex created_date 2026/02/01 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/12

Abstract

US retail milk monitoring during April 13-May 3, 2024, identified influenza A(H5N1) viral RNA in 36% of retail milk samples, indicating widespread undetected infections in US dairy cows. After federal initiatives, reported infections more closely aligned with findings in retail milk during December 27, 2024-January 29, 2025, reflecting improved detection and control.

Citations

• Pathogenicity and transmissibility of bovine H5N1 influenza virus
• Inactivation of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus with High-temperature Short Time Continuous Flow Pasteurization and Virus Detection in Bulk Milk Tanks

Cited by

• Methods for detecting highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus in dairy processing environments

Discussions

• While we debate positive or negative results, the virus continues to circulate. #H5N1 #EcoEpidemiology #OneHealth #Spillover #StructuralSurveillance Tarbuck et al., 2026. doi.org/10.3201/eid3... 14/ [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]

Related

• Identification of and Response to Influenza A(H5) in Off-the-Shelf Raw Milk—Santa Clara County, California, November–December 2024
• Stability of influenza viruses in the milk of cows and sheep
• Inactivation of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus with High-temperature Short Time Continuous Flow Pasteurization and Virus Detection in Bulk Milk Tanks
• Time is of the essence: effectiveness of dairy farm control of H5N1 is limited by fast spread
• Methods for detecting highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus in dairy processing environments