New recommendations aim to strengthen early detection and risk mitigation systems as the H5N1 influenza virus spreads to cattle, other mammals, and farm workers.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released new guidelines to help member countries enhance surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in cattle. These guidelines emphasize early detection of spillover events and leveraging existing resources to manage the disease’s spread.

The H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, first identified in 2021, has increasingly infected mammals, including dairy cattle, raising concerns about zoonotic risks. Detections in 2024 highlight potential spillover from birds to cattle, and FAO warns that the virus may spread to humans through infected livestock. “Considering the worldwide spread of influenza A (H5N1) of clade 2.3.4.4b, the spillover from birds to cattle (and likely from cattle to humans) in other countries is expected,” FAO states in its recommendations.

FAO encourages reporting of suspected cases, routine farm monitoring, and opportunistic testing to ensure effective surveillance. Key risk factors include areas with dense poultry or cattle populations and migratory bird activity. If cases are confirmed, rapid response measures should follow, including informing public health authorities and investigating human exposure risks.

The guidelines also urge collaboration with international databases, such as EMPRES-i+, to support global disease tracking and control efforts.