A strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) has been spreading in dairy cows in at least nine U.S. states.
Infected cows have very high levels of virus in their milk, and early reports indicate that it is being spread by contaminated milking equipment.
Three human infections with the virus have been confirmed, all in dairy workers who had contact with sick cows, developing symptoms of eye infections and flu-like respiratory symptoms.
Ron Fouchier, deputy head of the viroscience department at Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, mentions the surprise and worry over the widespread spread of the virus through milking machines and raw milk.
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