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PLoS Biol . Surveillance on California dairy farms reveals multiple possible sources of H5N1 influenza virus transmission
PLoS Biol
. 2026 May 5;24(5):e3003761.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3003761. eCollection 2026 May. Surveillance on California dairy farms reveals multiple possible sources of H5N1 influenza virus transmission
Transmission routes of highly pathogenic H5N1 between cows or to humans remain unclear due to limited data from affected dairy farms. We performed air, farm wastewater, and milk sampling on 14 H5N1-positive dairy farms across two different California regions. Infectious virus was detected in the air in milking parlors and in wastewater streams, while viral RNA was found in exhaled breath of cows. Sequence analysis of infectious H5N1 virus from air and wastewater samples on one farm revealed viral variants relevant for potential human susceptibility. Longitudinal analysis of milk from the individual quarters of cows revealed a high prevalence of subclinical H5N1-positive cows. Additionally, a heterogeneous distribution of infected quarters that maintained a consistent pattern over time was observed, inconsistent with shared milking equipment serving as the sole transmission mode. The presence of subclinically infected cows was further supported by detection of antibodies in the milk of animals that exhibited no clinical signs during the H5N1 outbreak on one farm. Our data highlight additional sources and potential modes of H5N1 transmission on dairy farms.
05/12/2026: The HPAI H5N1 outbreak in marine mammals in California, which occurred between February 12 and March 24, 2026, is now officially over, with no new positive cases found in tested marine mammals for over 30 days. The outbreak resulted in 64 positive marine mammal cases out of 233 tested animals (27% overall positivity). Positive cases included 57 elephant seals, 6 California sea lions, and 1 southern sea otter. The majority of cases in marine mammals (57) were concentrated in San Mateo County, with additional positive cases in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo counties. Preliminary analyses have shown that the sequences from the outbreak cluster tightly as the HPAI H5N1 A3 genotype.
Scientists are returning to normal research efforts, including routine surveys to look for sick elephant seals at Año Nuevo Reserve. Post-outbreak investigations of stranded marine mammals throughout California include screening of animals that could be suspect for HPAI H5N1 infection, based on all that we have learned during this outbreak. We plan to increase surveillance activities in marine mammals during the next bird migration in the fall of 2026.
We are very grateful to the partners listed below that supported the outbreak investigations, the many federal, state, and local agencies that oversaw aspects of this response, and the frontline responders that constitute the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
July 24, 2026 Judge rules CA dairies under quarantine during bird flu outbreak should stay secret
A Sacramento County Superior Court judge has ruled against an effort by legal advocates to force the state Department of Food and Agriculture to disclose the names and locations of farms quarantined during the bird flu crisis.
Judge Upholds Confidentiality of California Bird Flu Quarantine Locations
JULY 29, 2026
A California judge has ruled that the locations of dairies quarantined during the state’s California bird flu outbreak will remain confidential, siding with state agriculture officials who argued that protecting producer privacy is critical to disease response efforts. A recent report highlighted the decision, which balances public transparency with the need to encourage cooperation from dairy producers during animal health emergencies.
The case stemmed from a lawsuit filed by California Rural Assistance, which sought the release of the names and locations of dairies placed under quarantine during the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The organization argued that making the information public would improve oversight of the state’s response, help protect dairy workers and provide researchers with data to better understand the outbreak.
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Hear more about the court’s decision and its implications for California’s dairy industry by listening to the report below.
