US Nationwide Institutes of Well being scientists warn that consuming uncooked milk contaminated with H5N1 or hen flu, in all probability gained’t kill you, however will make you infectious.
In a examine printed within the analysis journal Nature researchers describe how they fed unpasteurized uncooked milk contaminated with bovine H5N1 to 6 macaque monkey and in contrast them to macaques who had been uncovered to the virus by way of the nostril (six monkey) or throat (six monkeys).
H5N1 Chook flu in uncooked milk infects monkeys
Monkeys who acquired the virus by way of the wind pipe fared the worst, struggling a extreme respiratory an infection inside every week. The nostril contaminated macaques developed a gentle an infection that peaked after round ten days, and the milk fed monkeys developed an an infection, however they didn’t present typical flu signs.
Whereas that is perhaps excellent news for the contaminated monkeys, it’s dangerous information for the remainder of us. As we realized from the COVID-19 pandemic, no signs doesn’t imply you aren’t infectious.
Tremendous Spreaders?
Individuals who drink unpasteurised milk containing H5N1 virus may turn out to be comfy incubators for the virus. Viral particles can camp out of their gastric and intestinal epithelium multiplying and making their means into the broader world by means of the identical route as our digested meals… Yep you guessed it, onto door handles, taps, gadgets in outlets and practice straps.
The CDC is engaged on getting H5N1 assessments to US regional testing centres, so let’s all hope their provide traces are higher than these or uncooked milk distributors.
An image of a virus
On the upside, right here’s a photograph of the H5N1 flu virus (yellow) hanging out in epithelial cells (purple). Researchers captured this picture utilizing an electron microscope and applies pseudo colors to the buildings as a way to simply see the virus.

Credit score: CDC and NIAID taken from press launch Subclinical Illness in Monkeys Uncovered to H5N1 by Mouth and Abdomen | NIAID: Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Illnesses. January 15, 2025. Accessed January 16, 2025. https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/h5n1-nhp
Subclinical Illness in Monkeys Uncovered to H5N1 by Mouth and Abdomen | NIAID: Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Illnesses. January 15, 2025. Accessed January 16, 2025. https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/h5n1-nhp
Rosenke Ok, Giffin A, Kaiser F, et al. Pathogenesis of bovine H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b an infection in Macaques. Nature. Printed on-line January 15, 2025:1-3. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08609-8