Survivability of H5N1 avian influenza virus in homemade yogurt, cheese and whey.

Influenza virus is typically associated with respiratory infections, but H5N1 in US dairy cows raises public health concerns about milk by-products. We show that simple home recipes can inactivate H5N1 in cheese, yogurt, and whey. While viral RNA was present, no viable virus was found, ensuring food safety.

Strain-dependent variations in replication of European clade 2.3.4.4b influenza A(H5N1) viruses in bovine cells and thermal inactivation in semi-skimmed or whole milk.

We investigated the thermostability of four European avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses in whole and semi-skimmed milk and their replication in bovine kidney and lung cells amid the current influenza A(H5N1) dairy cattle outbreak in the United States. Results showed strain-dependent differences in thermal inactivation, particularly in whole milk, and variable replication efficacy in lung cells. These findings support assessing the inactivation of European H5N1 viruses in milk and their replication in bovine cells, aiding biosafety protocols and public health measures.