Bird Flu Spreads to Dairy Cows, Raising Concerns Over Mutation Risks

The detection of a second H5N1 strain in U.S. dairy cattle highlights potential public health and economic risks, though experts say the general public's risk remains low.

The USDA confirmed the detection of the H5N1 D1.1 strain in Nevada dairy cattle, marking the second bird flu strain to infect cows in the U.S.
Experts warn that cows, unlike birds, can act as reservoirs for the virus, increasing opportunities for mutations and prolonged viral replication.
While pasteurized milk and eggs remain safe to consume, raw milk poses a significant risk due to high concentrations of the virus in infected herds.
The virus has infected 67 humans in the U.S., with one death and most cases linked to farmworkers; human-to-human transmission has not been documented.
Federal agencies are ramping up surveillance and testing efforts, but concerns persist about biosecurity gaps on farms and potential economic impacts like rising egg prices.