The H5N1 avian flu virus does not appear to spread easily through the air Research in animals still underscores the importance of avoiding raw milk, which may contain the virus The virus was spread through breastfeeding in infected mice WEDNESDAY, July 10, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- While exposure to raw cow's milk infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus can make you sick, a new study suggests the virus may not spread quickly to other people. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that mice and ferrets got sick with influenza when H5N1 bird flu virus was dripped into their noses, but airborne transmission of the virus appeared to be limited. Airborne transmission is a common way disease spreads quickly among people.
"This relatively low risk is good news, since it means the virus is unlikely to easily infect others who aren't exposed to raw infected milk," said study leader Yoshihiro Kawaoka , a professor of pathobiological sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He cautioned, however, that the findings show how the virus behaves in mice and ferrets. Results in humans may not be the same.
In their experiments, researchers found that mice got bird flu after drinking even small quantities of raw milk from an infected cow. They then relied on ferrets to simulate how influenza viruses might spread among people, because ferrets' flu symptoms are similar to those of humans, including fever, congestion and sneezing. To test the ability of the bird flu v.