A researcher at Kansas State University has linked milking practices to the spread of the bovine H5N1 influenza virus, first detected in U.S. dairy cattle in spring 2024. Juergen Richt, the lead author of a study published on September 25 in Nature, is a distinguished professor in diagnostic medicine and director of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases.

This highly pathogenic virus has affected over 200 dairy farms across 14 states. Previous research suggested milking equipment and human activities might facilitate its spread, but evidence was limited.

In a collaborative study with Martin Beer from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute in Germany, Richt examined how the virus spreads by infecting calves and lactating cows. While infected calves showed mild symptoms, the cows experienced severe infections, resulting in fever and significant drops in milk production. These findings highlight the need for safe milking practices to protect the cattle industry and public health.