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In March 2024, avian influenza A(H5N1) virus was detected in nasal swabs and milk of dairy cows, raising concerns about contamination of dairy products consumed by humans. In an analysis of milk obtained from cows affected by the outbreak, investigators isolated and sequenced the infecting viruses; these belonged to one clade, with findings suggestive of a single introduction to cows following reassortment events in the NP and PB2 genes.
Heat inactivating milk samples at 63°C for 5, 10, 20, or 30 minutes reduced viral titers below the limit of detection, while treating samples at 72°C for 5, 10, 15, 20, or 30 seconds did not completely inactivate the virus. Viruses were detected in untreated raw milk stored at refrigerator temperature for up…