Avian Influenza News and Research

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Avian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, avian influenza is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.

Alarming spread of H5N1 bird flu in US dairy cattle reveals cross-species transmission dangers

Researchers discovered that the H5N1 avian influenza virus has spilled over into dairy cattle in the US, posing significant cross-species transmission risks. Their multidisciplinary study reveals the virus's evolution and its zoonotic potential, emphasizing the need for heightened biosecurity measures.

25 Jul 2024

Study reveals a promising approach to developing universal influenza vaccine

New research led by Oregon Health & Science University reveals a promising approach to developing a universal influenza vaccine - a so-called "one and done" vaccine that confers lifetime immunity against an evolving virus.

19 Jul 2024

Flu viruses can use a second entry pathway to infect cells

Most influenza viruses enter human or animal cells through specific pathways on the cells' surface. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now discovered that certain human flu viruses and avian flu viruses can also use a second entry pathway, a protein complex of the immune system, to infect cells.

18 Jul 2024

Study finds dairy cows vulnerable to flu strains from birds, humans, and pigs

Researchers compared the distribution of sialic acid receptors in the respiratory tract and mammary glands of dairy cattle naturally infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus.

18 Jul 2024

Bovine H5N1 flu virus in cow milk poses significant health risks, study shows

Study characterizes the pathogenicity and transmission dynamics of the H5N1 influenza virus in bovine milk, highlighting significant public health risks and potential mammalian transmission.

10 Jul 2024

Cow's milk may spread H5N1 flu, but airborne transmission is limited

While H5N1 avian influenza virus taken from infected cow's milk makes mice and ferrets sick when dripped into their noses, airborne transmission of the virus between ferrets - a common model for human transmission - appears to be limited.

9 Jul 2024

Study warns of H5N1 avian flu risk from unpasteurized milk in dairy farms

Researchers found that the H5N1 avian influenza virus can persist in unpasteurized milk on milking equipment, posing an infection risk to dairy workers. They recommend protective gear and sanitization to prevent virus transmission.

4 Jul 2024

FDA commercial pasteurization process kills H5N1 bird flu virus in milk

A study by FDA and USDA confirms that commercial milk pasteurization effectively inactivates the Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza virus in cattle milk. This ensures the safety of the U.S. milk supply against this virus.

2 Jul 2024

Bird flu virus detected in Alaskan polar bear

Researchers reported a natural infection of a highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in a free-ranging juvenile polar bear in Alaska, highlighting the importance of wildlife health surveillance in detecting emerging pathogens.

2 Jul 2024

TOMI Environmental Solutions supports partners and customers to combat global avian influenza (H5N1) bird flu outbreak

TOMI Environmental Solutions, Inc.® (“TOMI”), a global company specializing in disinfection and decontamination utilizing its premier Binary Ionization Technology (BIT) platform through its SteraMist brand of products, today announced that the Company is working closely with customers and partners to support efforts to combat a current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) that is causing widespread disruption globally.

19 Jun 2024

H5N1 influenza outbreak in Texas dairy cattle sparks multi-species transmission concerns

Study identifies H5N1 influenza as the cause of an outbreak among dairy cattle in Texas, highlighting the risk of multi-species viral transmission and potential implications for human health.

11 Jun 2024

Vaccination remains crucial for preventing avian influenza spread, says study

Vaccination remains the most effective strategy for avian influenza prevention and control in humans, despite varying vaccine efficacy across strains.

29 May 2024

Clues from bird flu’s ground zero on dairy farms in the Texas Panhandle

In early February, dairy farmers in the Texas Panhandle began to notice sick cattle. The buzz soon reached Darren Turley, executive director of the Texas Association of Dairymen: "They said there is something moving from herd to herd."

23 May 2024

Health experts call for tighter biosecurity measures to monitor avian influenza

Health experts are calling for tighter biosecurity measures in global poultry production, from farms to markets, to monitor bird flu (avian influenza) following its spread among 888 cases of human infection with the avian influenza virus, also known as H5N1, have been reported from 23 countries, of which 463 were fatal, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

21 May 2024

H5N1 avian flu strain jumps to seals in Quebec, raising zoonotic fears

Study describes the unusual mortality of gray and harbor seals in Quebec due to a highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) strain, raising concerns about potential zoonotic spillover.

17 May 2024

Study reveals highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in New York City wild birds

A small number of New York City wild birds carry highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Virology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

15 May 2024

Texas Tech lab helps detect first case of avian influenza transmission from mammal to human

Texas Tech University's Biological Threat Research Laboratory (BTRL) played a key role in detecting the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) transmitted from a mammal (dairy cow) to a human.

14 May 2024

Study shows cows harbor both human and avian flu receptors in their mammary glands

Study investigates the expression of influenza A virus (IAV) receptors in bovine respiratory, cerebral, and mammary tissues, revealing significant localization of human and duck receptors in mammary glands and predominant chicken receptors in the respiratory tract, which may influence the transmission and pathogenesis of IAV in cattle.

8 May 2024

Bird flu detected in cow's milk: Insights from an infectious disease expert

In light of the United States Food and Drug Administration's announcement that bird flu has been discovered in cow's milk, board-certified infectious disease physician Carl Abraham, M.D., assistant professor at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM), shares insights on what the general public should know.

2 May 2024

Avian flu crosses species, infecting cats and cattle in Texas and Kansas

A study in the CDC's Emerging Infectious Disease Journal reports the spread of H5N1 avian influenza among cats and dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas, showing systemic illness in cattle and significant fatalities in cats exposed to the virus through infected milk.

1 May 2024