Why This Matters

Bird flu (H5N1) is usually a problem for birds, but recently, it has been found in dairy cows. This raises concerns because cows produce milk consumed by humans, and the virus could potentially spread in unexpected ways. Scientists have now tested a bird flu vaccine on cows to see if it can protect them and if the immunity passes into their milk.

A new study published in Scientific Reports shows promising results: vaccinated cows developed strong immunity, and antibodies were even found in their milk. This could be a game-changer in preventing the spread of the virus. (Read the study here).

What Did the Study Find?

Researchers gave different doses of an inactivated bird flu vaccine to young cows (calves) and later to adult, milk-producing cows. They then measured the immune response in the animals’ blood and milk.

• Young Cows (Calves): The vaccine worked better with higher doses, producing stronger immunity.

• Milk-Producing Cows: Vaccinated cows not only developed antibodies but also passed them into their milk within two weeks.

This means that vaccinating dairy cows could help protect both the cows and potentially reduce the virus’s presence in milk.

What’s Next?

The study suggests that bird flu vaccines could be an important tool for protecting cattle and preventing further spread. However, more research is needed to:

• Test the vaccine in larger groups of cows.

• Monitor how long the immunity lasts.

• Improve the vaccine formula to make it as effective as possible.

Bottom Line

This study provides hope that a bird flu vaccine could help safeguard dairy cows and reduce risks to farmers and consumers. If successful on a larger scale, this approach could be a key step in managing bird flu outbreaks in cattle.

📖 Read the full study here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-87831-w