From Birds to Bovine: the Bird Flu
Written by Doreen Li April 6, 2025
Written by Doreen Li April 6, 2025
In a bizarre and unexpected turn of events, bird flu (H5N1) has made an unexpected leap from birds to dairy cows in the United States. Yep, you read that right — cows. This is the first time this virus has been found in cattle, and scientists are scrambling to figure out how it happened. The outbreak started in Texas in March 2024, when dairy farmers noticed cows getting sick, producing less milk and even having weird-looking milk. Soon, cases popped up in other states, making experts pretty concerned.
Then came another surprise: bird flu actually infected a person. In April 2024, a dairy worker in Texas tested positive for H5N1 after working with sick cows. Luckily, the person only had mild symptoms like eye redness and recovered quickly, but the fact that it jumped from cows to humans has scientists keeping a close eye on the situation. To make things even weirder, a new strain of the virus (called D1.1) was recently found in Nevada cows, which means this thing is still evolving.
So, what does this mean for the average person? Experts say there’s no reason to panic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is testing milk supplies to make sure everything is safe, and pasteurized milk is fine to drink. Scientists are working hard to stop the spread and prevent the virus from mutating into something more dangerous. For now, just know that this outbreak is being carefully watched, and maybe give a little extra appreciation to the scientists and farmers who are keeping our food safe!
REFERENCES
Avian Influenza Virus Type A (H5N1) in U.S. dairy cattle. American Veterinary Medical Association. (2025, March 11). https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/avian-influenza/avian-influenza-virus-type-h5n1-us-dairy-cattle
Avian Influenza. Avian Influenza | Texas DSHS. (n.d.). https://www.dshs.texas.gov/influenza-flu-provider-information/avian-influenza-bird-flu
Health, D. of P. (n.d.). Bird flu. Bird Flu. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/pages/Bird-Flu.aspx