Avian Influenza & Raw Dairy Milk: What You Need to Know About H5N1

Avian Influenza, H5N1, HPAI, Bird Flu – What You Need To Know With Raw Dairy Milk

To learn more about how HPAI is affecting raw poultry and raw pet food, read the blog on H5N1 in Raw Pet Food.

After reviewing the current information on transmission of H5N1 from raw cows milk, I am left with more questions than answers, as this is developing day by day. That is also why I felt a separate blog post was necessary to keep things separate from transmission cases from raw poultry and wild birds.

When I first reported on the Weekly Pet Roundup 1/6/25 about H5N1 Avian Influenza in raw pet food, I said that the only known cases of cats becoming sick with H5N1 from raw cows milk were through cross contamination. This was due to a CDC report stating
“Based on the limited research and information available, we do not know at this time if avian influenza A viruses can be transmitted to people through consumption of raw milk and products (such as cheese) made from raw milk from infected cows.”

However, other websites including the AVMA website state that they believe transmission is possible through infected raw dairy milk.

History

The first time that H5N1 was reported in cows in the United States was in March 2024, according to the CDC. As of January 2024, there are 16 states and 919 herds that have been affected by bird flu.

In April 2024, the first human in the U.S. was reported to have been infected with H5N1 from an infected dairy cow. In May 2024 additional sporadic human transmission from dairy cows was reported.

According to the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), lactating cows are most affected. In these affected herds, less than 10% show symptoms of infection and mortality rates are low in cattle that receive treatment.

As of today, the AVMA reports 52 cats have been infected with H5N1 in states where dairy cattle have also tested positive. “These cases reinforce the importance of keeping pets away from raw milk or colostrum, raw meat, and wild birds and other wildlife.”

While no illnesses have been reported to humans from raw dairy milk, the FDA urges all raw dairy farmers to stop the sale of milk, and California has recalled all raw dairy in the state.

The FDA and the AVMA are advising people to stop feeding pets all raw meat and raw dairy, and for people to fully cook their meats to 165F and stop consuming raw dairy.

I believe that you need to assess your risks and do what is best for you and your pets. My cats don’t drink raw dairy, but I do and will continue to do so. My cats also don’t eat raw poultry, and many raw pet food brands use HPP in their raw poultry recipes even when they don’t HPP other proteins. Sourcing is the best way to mitigate risks to yourself and your pets when it comes to consumables.

CATS, BIRD FLU, and RAW MILK

While the AVMA states that 52 cats have tested positive for H5N1 in states that also have infected cattle, there are 2 instances that I have found as of today where raw cows milk has been implicated in the infections.

March 2024 – 24 cats on a dairy farm in Texas tested positive for H5N1 after consuming raw cows milk and half subsequently died, according to the CDC.
While the CDC report indicates that the raw dairy milk is to blame, and although the name of the farm has not been released, reports in Texas have confirmed that the farm also found many dead birds on the property that also tested positive for H5N1. (Fox News)
While farms are not specified, the Texas Animal Health Commission also confirms that testing increased in Texas dairy farms after finding deceased birds on these farms.
December 2024 – 4 cats tested positive for H5N1 after consuming raw dairy in LA county, according to Los Angeles County of Public Health.
These 4 cats, one of which confirmed to have become ill after consuming a recalled raw poultry pet food, seem to be the same cats that were listed int he raw pet food recall. So did the first cat get sick from consuming raw poultry that was infected? Or did they all get sick from the raw milk? Why are there 2 separate notices that are (potentially) misleading the public as to what is causing the infection in cats?

In both cases, I have more questions than answers.

While there is absolutely the possibility of infection from cats consuming raw dairy from cattle that are infected, these cases do not give me enough confidence to demonize raw cows milk. You get to decide for yourself, and as I mentioned earlier, I would err on the side of caution for my cats if they did drink raw cows milk.

Raw Milk & Bird Flu: Where’s The Evidence?

The Raw Milk Institute also brings into question the issue of contact with both dairy milk and dead birds, not only in the case of cats, but also with the human works on the farm that tested positive and/or were symptomatic.

They also bring up a valid point of the protective properties of raw milk, “While no evidence supports milkborne or foodborne transmission of HPAI to humans, evidence does exist that demonstrates a multitude of well-characterized mechanistic factors that inactivate viruses and prevent foodborne illness.”

The story is unfolding for us day by day and what may be true for us and our cats today may change tomorrow, next week, or next month. As we receive updates, I’ll continue to bring those to you via The Pet Parenting Reset podcast, likely on the weekly live sessions on Instagram called the Weekly Pet Roundup, which are also reposted to the podcast feed.