First case of bird flu antibodies found in Dutch cow

Avian influenza antibodies have been found in a cow in Europe for the first time ever.

Wageningen University and Research made the discovery in a Dutch dairy cow which was tested after avian influenza had previously been confirmed in one of the cats on the dairy farm.

While the virus itself was not found, the cow would have previously been infected with avian influenza.

However, she cannot spread the virus and does not pose a risk to public health.

As part of Holland's bird flu testing and surveillance, samples were taken from a number of cows on farms where the avian influenza virus has been confirmed.

For this purpose, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) took milk samples from 20 cows on the farm and collected a bulk tank milk sample.

No other cows tested were found to be carrying the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

Negative

"All samples have tested negative, meaning these animals are not carrying active virus,” said Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) researcher Monika Ballmann, head of the Dutch National Reference Laboratory for avian influenza.

All samples are also being tested for the presence of antibodies against the avian influenza virus - this test take more time. The results are expected during the course of next week.

Measures

Until the results of the investigations are known, restrictive measures apply to the farm.

The farm’s milk is only used for pasteurised products, meaning any virus that may be present is inactivated and poses no risk.

The milk from the cow that was ill in December did not enter the food chain, Wageningen University and Research has confirmed.