New Study Finds Avian Influenza in Dairy Cows: What Does This Mean for Your Milk?

We know the many health and nutritional benefits of drinking milk. It provides essential vitamins and minerals including fat, calcium, Vitamins B12 and D, Potassium and Magnesium amongst many others. It is also a natural source of protein and a variety of fatty acids, and supports muscle, bone and cardiovascular health. This is why a recent study caused concern when it presented findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 being contracted by dairy cows in the United States. We asked experts for their insights on the new evidence and how to ensure the cow’s milk we drink is healthy.

Study finds avian influenza in dairy cattle

The recent development was originally detected in March 2024. The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reported detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (H5N1) virus in dairy cattle in the United States for the first time. T he H5N1 virus, part of the broader family of flu viruses, has proven its ability to cause severe disease and high mortality rates in birds, which has earned it the “highly pathogenic” label. Now, it appears to be infecting dairy cows.

Researchers from Iowa State University, led by Rahul Nelli and Todd Bell, conducted a study to understand how this avian virus could infect and replicate in mammals like cows. The findings, published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases , state that the virus was found predominantly in the mammary glands and raw milk produced by the animals.

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“The recent discovery that dairy cattle can be infected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus of the H5N1 subtype, in combination with the virus’s propensity to replicate in the mammary gland, has raised many questions and is causing fresh concerns about HPAI H5N1 spread,” the study says. “Detection of high levels of viral RNA in the milk during the acute stage of infection has triggered public health alerts and pre-movement testing requirements and has suggested the potential for the presence of the virus in unpasteurized milk.”

The virus was found in several dairy herds in Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas, the FDA confirmed . It was detected in unpasteurized, clinical samples of milk, swabs and tissue samples.

Experts respond to concerns about cow’s milk

So, does this news mean you should stop drinking dairy milk altogether? No, say experts, it just reinforces the importance of exclusively consuming pasteurized milk products.

“In the United States, dairy products are subject to stringent regulations and standards enforced by government agencies,” explains Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES CDN , Preventive Cardiology Dietitian at EntirelyNourished.com. “These regulations cover aspects such as hygiene practices on dairy farms, milk processing and testing for contaminants and pathogens. Cow's milk also undergoes pasteurization, a process that involves heating the milk to eliminate harmful bacteria and pathogens, which helps to reduce the risk of milk-borne illnesses. Consuming unpasteurized raw milk increases the risk of milk-borne illnesses, which is why raw cow’s milk is not recommended for consumption.”

The study raises concerns about the possibility of cows transmitting avian influenza viruses to humans, which could pose a health risk, but it's important to note that the transmission of avian influenza from cows to humans has not been documented widely in real-world settings, notes Routhenstein. While the study highlights a theoretical risk, she says, actual instances of human infections through cow's milk have not been a significant concern historically.

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“At this time, there continues to be no concern that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health, or that it affects the safety of the interstate commercial milk supply because products are pasteurized before entering the market,” the FDA confirms. “Only milk from healthy animals is authorized for distribution into interstate commerce for human consumption. Additionally, pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce. Pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. Milk from ill (symptomatic) animals is being diverted or destroyed so that it does not enter the human food supply.”

If you find milk that doesn’t have the word “pasteurized” anywhere on the label, it’s best to double check with a store employee or the seller if you’re purchasing from a farm for peace of mind.

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This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan .