Although bird flu, or H5N1 influenza, had been primarily limited to wild migratory birds and sporadic outbreaks in commercial poultry operations, it was detected in U.S. dairy cows in March 2024. Since then, H5N1 has spread rapidly in dairy cattle across multiple states, and the industry has limited tools to protect their herds. Together, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and Purdue University are investing $301,562 into a Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to develop an H5N1 vaccine for dairy cows.
While H5N1 does not have high mortality rates in dairy cows, the infection causes decreases milk production and milk quality, causing significant economic losses for farmers. The recent detection of H5N1 in humans, dairy cows and non-traditional host birds indicates that this virus poses new threats to other non-avian species.