The H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu, can remain stable in unpasteurized milk on the metal and rubber parts of commercial milking equipment for at least an hour. This increases the possibility of the virus infecting both humans and other animals, according to a report by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Emory University in Emerging Infectious Diseases. The study highlights the increased risk of bird flu transmission through unpasteurized milk.The study highlights the importance of providing dairy farm workers with adequate protection, such as face shields, masks, and eye protection. According to Valerie Le Sage, Ph.D., from the Center for Vaccine Research at Pitt, there is concern about the virus remaining stable in residual milk from the milking process, which could potentially infect workers or spread between animals. This emphasizes the need for wider adoption of personal protective equipment to ensure the safety of dairy farm workers.”mal.”
The clinical signs of bird flu can vary from mild fever and cough to difficulty breathing and pneumonia and can be deadly. Since March 2024, when the bird flu virus was first found in dairy cows in the United States, it has spread to other states and infected at least 3 individuals. Despite the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention stating that the current risk to the public is low, flu viruses can quickly change to spread from person to person.
In order to comprehend the potential for transmission from cows to dairy farm workers, scientists examined the stability of infectious flu virus particles in unpasteurizedMilk droplets with H5N1 and H1N1 viruses can remain stable on metal and rubber surfaces of milking equipment for a significant amount of time. In a lab setting that replicated the conditions of outdoor milking parlors in Texas, it was found that H5N1 virus particles in milk were stable on metal and rubber for over an hour. Similarly, H1N1 virus particles were infectious for at least 3 hours on rubber and 1 hour on stainless steel. This study suggests that contaminated milking equipment surfaces could potentially contribute to the spread of illness from animals to humans.Experts stress the importance of using face shields, masks, and eye protection, as well as implementing thorough sanitization of equipment between cows. This is crucial in reducing the risk to workers and preventing the spread of infection among animals. The study was also conducted by Douglas Reed, Ph.D., and Paul Duprex, Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, along with A.J. Campbell, Ph.D., and Seema Lakdawala, Ph.D. from Emory University. Funding for this research was provided in part by the Department of Health and Human Services (Contract No. 75N93021C00015) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which supports the operations of the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh.The Center for Vaccine Research (UC7AI180311) is committed to developing vaccines to combat diseases.
