October 17, 2024

University of Georgia, US collaborates with FDA to test US dairy for avian influenza

The University of Georgia (UGA), US is partnering with the country's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test US dairy supplies for the presence of avian influenza.

This initiative is part of efforts to mitigate the risks posed by the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) outbreak to both human and animal health.

UGA is one of five institutions nationwide engaged in ensuring the safety of dairy products during the outbreak. The university's involvement will be led by the UGA Centre for Influenza Disease and Emergence Research (CIDER), a designated Centre of Excellence in Influenza Research and Response. This centre is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (CEIRR No. 202175N93021C00018) and is one of six US institutions studying the history, transmission, and progression of influenza.

"This virus and its spread are concerning," said S Mark Tompkins, director and principal investigator of the UGA centre. "I worry about the changing ecology of this virus, the sustained spread of H5N1 across dairy farms, and our ability to take the steps to address it."

While the virus has been detected in raw milk from infected cows, pasteurisation appears to neutralise H5N1, making it unlikely to infect humans through pasteurised products. However, concerns remain about unpasteurised dairy products.

"The concern is that there is a substantial population that prefers unpasteurised dairy products," explained Tompkins, who also serves as a professor of virology and immunology at UGA's College of Veterinary Medicine. "The risk of falling ill from salmonella or listeria contamination of raw dairy products has been recognised for many years.

"Now, with the potential contamination of the milk supply with H5N1 influenza virus, there is a risk of people becoming infected through the consumption of unpasteurised milk, cheese, or other dairy products. These infections could provide an opportunity for the virus to establish itself and spread in humans."

-      UGA Today