Author: University of Pittsburgh Schools of Health Sciences
Published: 06/28/2024
Type of publication: Findings – Peer Reviewed: Yeah
Content: Summary – Introduction – Major – Related
Synopsis: The discovery that avian influenza remains stable on milking equipment for at least an hour highlights the increased risk of exposure for dairy farm workers. Dairy cows must be milked even if they are sick, and it is unclear how long the virus contained in waste milk from the milking process remains stable on equipment. Of concern is that the virus present in unpasteurized milk can remain stable for hours and potentially infect farm workers or spread from one animal to another.
Introduction
The avian influenza virus, or H5N1, present in unpasteurized milk is stable on metal and rubber components of commercial milking equipment for at least an hour, increasing its potential to infect people and other animals, report researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Emory University in Emerging infectious diseases.
Main summary
The study highlights the increased risk of exposure to avian flu for dairy farm workers and points to the need for broader adoption of personal protective equipment, including face shields, masks and eye protection.
“Dairy cows must be milked even if they are sick, and it is unclear how long the virus contained in waste milk from the milking process remains stable on equipment,” said senior author Valerie Le Sage, Ph.D., a research assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at Pitt’s Vaccine Research Center. “It is concerning that the virus in unpasteurized milk can remain stable for hours and potentially infect farm workers or spread from animal to animal.”
Clinical symptoms of bird flu can range from mild fever and cough to difficulty breathing and pneumonia, and can be fatal.
Since March 2024, when the bird flu virus was first detected in dairy cattle in the US, the virus has spread across state lines and infected at least three people. While the current risk to the general public remains low, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu viruses can adapt quickly to spread from person to person.
To understand the potential for spread from livestock to dairy farm workers, researchers analyzed the stability of infectious flu virus particles in unpasteurized milk droplets present on metal and rubber components of milking equipment. commercial.
In a laboratory environment that mimicked the humidity and temperature of outdoor milking parlors in Texas, H5N1 virus particles suspended in milk remained stable on metal and rubber for more than an hour. Particles of the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, which behaves similarly to H5N1 in the lab, remained infectious for at least 3 hours on rubber and for at least 1 hour on stainless steel.
“Our data support that milking equipment surfaces can remain contaminated for a long time, increasing the potential for transmission from a sick animal to a person,” Le Sage said. “These findings underscore the importance of face shields, masks and eye protection, and enhanced disinfection of equipment between cows to reduce the risk to workers and minimize spread between animals.”
Authors
Other authors of this research are Douglas Reed, Ph.D., and Paul Duprex, Ph.D., both of Pitt; and AJ Campbell, Ph.D., and Seema Lakdawala, Ph.D., both of Emory University.
The investigation
This research was funded in part by the Department of Health and Human Services (Contract No. 75N93021C00015) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases which supported operations of the Pitt Regional Biocontainment Laboratory within the Vaccine Research Center (UC7AI180311) .
Attribution/Source(s):
This peer-reviewed publication titled Avian influenza virus remains infectious on milking equipment for more than an hour The editors of Disabled World selected this book for publication because of its relevance to the disability community. While content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity, its original author was University of Pittsburgh School of Health Sciences and published on 06/28/2024. For more details or clarifications, you can contact University of Pittsburgh School of Health Sciences directly at health.pitt.edu/schools-health-sciences Disabled World makes no warranty or endorsement related to this article.
Related posts
Share this information with:
𝕏.com Facebook reddit
Page information, citations and disclaimer
Disabled World is an independent disability community founded in 2004 to provide news and information to disabled people, older people, their families and carers. We’d love for you to follow and connect with us on social media!
Cite this page (APA): University of Pittsburgh School of Health Sciences (June 28, 2024). Avian influenza virus remains infectious on milking equipment for more than an hour. Disabled world. Retrieved June 29, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/health/influenza/birdflu/infection-time.php
Permanent link: The avian influenza virus remains infectious on milking equipment for more than an hour: The discovery of avian flu’s stability in milking equipment for at least one hour highlights the increased risk of exposure for dairy farm workers.
Disabled World provides general information only. The materials presented are never intended to be a substitute for qualified medical care. Any third party offers or advertisements do not constitute an endorsement.
