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H5N1 Bird Flu Spreads Among U.S. Cattle, Raising Concerns Over Biosecurity and Human Health

The H5N1 avian influenza virus has been detected in multiple U.S. dairy herds, with evidence of transmission to humans and other animals, prompting urgent calls for improved surveillance and biosecurity measures.

Dairy cows are milked at the Meadow Creek Dairy Farm on October 5, 2022, in Galax, Virginia. - With a hundred head of cattle grazing the green slopes of the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern US, Meadow Creek is unlike most other cheese factories in the country: all of its products are made from raw milk. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been spreading among U.S. dairy cattle, with cases now reported in several states.
  • Genomic analyses reveal the virus has been circulating undetected for months, likely originating from a single spillover event from birds.
  • Transmission among cattle is likely facilitated by practices such as using poultry litter as feed and fertilizer, raising concerns about agricultural biosecurity.
  • Limited human cases have been identified, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe, highlighting the risk of zoonotic transmission.
  • Critics have voiced concerns over the slow governmental response and lack of transparency in data sharing, which may hinder efforts to control the outbreak.