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Study finds milking equipment spreads bovine flu

Study finds milking equipment spreads bovine flu


By Jamie Martin

Researchers at Kansas State University have discovered a critical link between common milking practices and the spread of bovine H5N1 influenza in dairy cattle. The findings, spearheaded by Juergen Richt and detailed in Nature, could reshape biosecurity protocols in dairy farms nationwide.

The study concentrated on two strains of the virus, including H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, pinpointing milking equipment as a primary transmission vector. Infected cows exhibited severe mastitis and lowered milk production, harboring high virus concentrations in their milk.

This revelation has broad implications for the U.S. dairy industry, integral to the national agricultural framework, and underscores potential economic and public health disasters if control measures are not enforced.

The research, a collaborative effort with Germany's Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, was funded through the State of Kansas National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Transition Fund. It calls for immediate enhancements in milking procedures and equipment hygiene to curtail this zoonotic threat effectively.

By focusing on preventive measures and rigorous farm hygiene, the dairy industry can safeguard against significant losses and health risks, ensuring the wellbeing of both cattle and consumers.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-ahavelaar


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