Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Spreading (Heat Dairy, Eggs, and Meat)

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, which began to be confirmed in wild birds and poultry farms last month, has seen its spread accelerate since entering November.

H5N1 virus detected in a reservoir in Kawaminami Town, Miyazaki Prefecture, and H5N1 virus also detected in a dead mallard collected in Nobeoka City.
Virus detection in a pond means that mammals drinking the pond water without boiling it are at risk of infection, which is serious (be sure to boil well water if using it). To reiterate, avian influenza H5N1 has acquired the ability to infect not only birds but a wide range of mammals. Even the tanuki, rats, and stray cats that are often talked about lately are at high risk of becoming infected and acting as vectors for the virus to humans and livestock.

In Hokkaido, following the first case in Shiraoi Town, H5N1 avian influenza infection has also occurred at a poultry farm in Eniwa City.

Following the two cases in Hokkaido, H5N1 avian influenza infection has also occurred at a poultry farm in Tainai City, Niigata Prefecture.

A dead Steller's sea eagle infected with H5N1 was collected in eastern Hokkaido (Nemuro City, Betsukai Town, Nakashibetsu Town, Shibetsu Town, Rausu Town).
The eastern part of Hokkaido already saw H5N1 infections in sea otters and seals (mammals, not birds) last season, and H5N1 infection in a white-tailed eagle was also confirmed in the off-season in June.It is a high-risk area. And it's a dairy farming region... they really should test the cows...

H5N1 is circulating from north to south. H5N1 virus was detected in the roosts of waterfowl and in a river in Izumi City, Kagoshima Prefecture.
Virus in the river means mammals drinking the river water will also get infected. And animals that wander near human homes and enter houses, such as tanuki, masked palm civets, rats, and stray cats, could easily deliver H5N1 avian influenza to humans, livestock, and pets! In that case, the route of infection would likely be unknown, and since Japan lacks a testing system for avian influenza in mammals, including humans, it is highly likely that such cases would be dismissed as mysterious severe cases of Influenza A rather than H5N1, especially for people other than poultry farmers.

A common buzzard in Mikawa Town, Yamagata Prefecture, also died from H5N1 infection. (Naturally, there are other infected birds, and if stray cats or other animals eat infected birds, they will also become infected.)

For some reason, the Yomiuri Shimbun writes fairly solid articles regarding H5N1.
[As of 11/8, there have been 13 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, mostly H5N1, since the fall of 2025.]

A second poultry farm infection has occurred in Tainai City, Niigata Prefecture, where the third domestic poultry farm infection was found (making it the fourth domestic poultry farm infection). It is within a 1km radius of the previously infected poultry farm in Tainai City. No matter how many chickens are culled, if the wild birds, tanuki, masked palm civets, stray cats, rats, and other mammals that carry the virus are not tested and captured, the chain of infection will easily continue.
[H5N1 cannot be prevented by targeting only birds.]

Mallards and a peregrine falcon in Miyazaki City, Kunitomi Town, and Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture, have been infected with H5N1. Since the virus has been detected in a reservoir in Kawaminami, not only wild waterfowl but also wild mammals are infected and are spreading the virus among themselves.
Miyazaki Prefecture ships not only dairy products but also beef, right? I feel like I saw it on the news a lot during the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Test the cows. H5N1 causes large-scale infections in cows as well. And the infection will spread through dairy products and, of course, beef.

H5N1 is already circulating from north to south. It is inevitable that infections at poultry farms will increase over time, and large-scale infections could occur at any time in the dairy and livestock industries without being visible (it is possible they already have).
The most important measure against H5N1 avian influenza for general consumers who do not have direct contact with large numbers of livestock is heating. (Including well water.) It is important to heat dairy products, including milk, as well as eggs and meat, sufficiently in both temperature and time to inactivate the virus. Raw milk, dairy products made from raw milk that are eaten without being heated, raw eggs, and raw meat carry a risk of infection from viruses that remain alive for a long time. Thoroughly avoid eating or drinking anything raw.
By the way, this applies to pets as well as humans. In the United States, cats have been infected from raw milk, and H5N1 virus has been found in raw turkey cat food. Since infection can occur from unheated products, it is safer to limit pet food to heat-treated products.
Regarding pets, those kept outdoors are at risk of infection from contact with wild birds and infected wild mammals, so if you can keep them indoors, do so; if not, you need biosecurity measures to prevent contact with other animals. It is important to recognize that not only birds but also tanuki, stray cats, rats, etc., can act as vectors for the virus.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 is not just a problem for birds and farmers. It is not just a problem of egg and chicken prices rising or becoming scarce.
It is an infectious disease that affects a wide range of mammals, including humans, as an Influenza A virus. Infection can occur not only through contact with birds but also through food or through infected animals that you are unaware of (e.g., damage from feces and urine by stray cats, or contaminated soil and crops).
In terms of less visible contact, there is also the risk of fertilizer contamination. Cow manure and chicken manure are particularly dangerous. Regarding food, even if poultry farms cull all birds and restrict movement, it is unclear if other areas will be tested... or rather, I suspect they won't be. In the first place, there is no testing for beef for human consumption at all!
In addition, organic vegetables that may be grown using cow or chicken manure as fertilizer could also be contaminated by the fertilizer. I rarely eat vegetables raw, but I think people who like raw vegetable salads and buy organic products should be careful. Heating is the surest way, but if you can't, washing them thoroughly is essential.

For that reason, I, who rarely have the habit of eating raw food, am being extra cautious and making sure to heat everything thoroughly (that's why I boil the water for my Caspian Sea yogurt and whey every time). If there is no high-temperature, long-time heating in the manufacturing process, I heat it myself. This is the surest way.

I don't know how long eggs and dairy products will be available, so while they are, I'll take precautions and enjoy making sweets.
Oh, I need to buy long-life milk.

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Related

↑Reason for heating dairy products as an H5N1 countermeasure

↑Collection of infected bean geese @ Miyagi, 24-25 season H5N1 @ North America, Hokkaido (including sea otter and seal infections)