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Vaccine H5N1 Cattle
About Vaccine H5N1 Cattle
H5N1 avian influenza was detected in dairy cattle in the United States in March 2024. The virus had been spreading in cattle since late 2023. By late 2024, hundreds of dairy herds in multiple states were affected. Dozens of human cases were identified, mostly mild illness in farm workers, and the first US H5N1 death was reported in January 2025. The CDC monitored the situation closely. The USDA implemented testing requirements for dairy cattle moving interstate. The emergence of H5N1 in cattle raised concerns about mammalian adaptation of the virus. Finland began vaccinating mink farm workers with H5N1 vaccine preventively. The US government prepared doses from its H5N1 vaccine stockpile. Moderna received US government funding to develop an H5N1 mRNA vaccine, but in May 2025 the Department of Health and Human Services cancelled a 590 million dollar contract for it. The situation highlighted the ongoing pandemic risk from avian influenza and the importance of preparedness. The inability to conduct widespread testing of cattle and farm workers was criticized.
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