Can H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cattle be contained in the US?

Jonathan E. Pekar; Alvin Crespo-Bellido; Philippe Lemey; Andrew S. Bowman; Thomas P. Peacock; Jennine N. Ochoa; Andrew Rambaut; Oliver G. Pybus; Michael Worobey; Martha I. Nelson

doi:10.1016/j.cell.2025.12.033

Can H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cattle be contained in the US?

Jonathan E. Pekar
, Alvin Crespo-Bellido
, Philippe Lemey
, Andrew S. Bowman
, Thomas P. Peacock
, Jennine N. Ochoa
, Andrew Rambaut
, Oliver G. Pybus
, Michael Worobey
, Martha I. Nelson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

Abstract

The emergence and sustained spread of H5N1 in US dairy cattle since 2024 have demonstrated that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is capable of establishing long-term transmission in livestock. Genomic surveillance has clarified national patterns of spatial diffusion, interspecies transmission, and viral evolution, but critical data gaps remain that impede efforts to track virus movements in real time, identify modes of transmission, and inform control efforts.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	699-705
Number of pages	7
Journal	Cell
Volume	189
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2025.12.033
State	Published - Feb 5 2026

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Access to Document

10.1016/j.cell.2025.12.033

Cite this

@article{a10207c8c3d74958a12f69c816f3609e,

title = "Can H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cattle be contained in the US?",

abstract = "The emergence and sustained spread of H5N1 in US dairy cattle since 2024 have demonstrated that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is capable of establishing long-term transmission in livestock. Genomic surveillance has clarified national patterns of spatial diffusion, interspecies transmission, and viral evolution, but critical data gaps remain that impede efforts to track virus movements in real time, identify modes of transmission, and inform control efforts.",

author = "Pekar, \{Jonathan E.\} and Alvin Crespo-Bellido and Philippe Lemey and Bowman, \{Andrew S.\} and Peacock, \{Thomas P.\} and Ochoa, \{Jennine N.\} and Andrew Rambaut and Pybus, \{Oliver G.\} and Michael Worobey and Nelson, \{Martha I.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Elsevier Inc.",

year = "2026",

month = feb,

day = "5",

doi = "10.1016/j.cell.2025.12.033",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "189",

pages = "699--705",

journal = "Cell",

issn = "0092-8674",