Scientists discover how H5N1 virus invades cattle

Chinese scientists say they have uncovered how the H5N1 virus initially invades the mammary glands of dairy cattle, potentially triggering last year's outbreak of bird flu across more than 1,000 dairy farms in the United States.

The study, published recently in the journal National Science Review, was conducted by the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Heilongjiang province. Researchers found that tissues in the mouths of cattle support H5N1 virus binding and replication, allowing the virus to spread to the mammary glands during suckling.

Chen Hualan, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a chief scientist at the institute, and her team also confirmed that vaccination provides full protection against the virus in dairy cows. The study suggests that targeted control of milk-stealing behavior and immunization could help curb H5N1 outbreaks among cattle.