Infectious Diseases 2024

A new study, published on May 22 in medRxiv, investigates the potential transmission of the H5N1 influenza virus through contaminated surfaces in dairy farming. The researchers found that unpasteurized milk containing the H5N1 virus remained infectious on milking equipment surfaces for at least one hour, indicating a potential risk of transmission to cattle and dairy farm workers. They also compared the viral decay of H5N1 and H1N1 in raw milk on different surfaces and observed similar persistence. The study suggests that contaminated surfaces generated during milking could facilitate the transmission of H5N1 between cattle and to dairy farm workers.