Updated Risk Assessment: Risk to UK Consumers From Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 B3.13 in US Dairy and Beef Products

Since the first confirmed case on 25th March 2024, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b genotype B3.13 has been detected in dairy cattle across the United States.The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in collaboration with states tested unpasteurised milk samples from bulk tanks, finding 57.5% of 275 samples positive for viral RNA.Of these, 25% contained infectious virus, with titres ranging from 1.3 to 6.3 Log 10 EID 50 /mL and a median titre of 3.5 Log 10 EID 50 /mL.During the outbreak, the FDA also found viral RNA in about 20% of tested dairy products from retail stores.However, no infectious virus was detected in any of the samples.Furthermore, two US studies of cattle infected with H5N1 have shown 0.5-1% of muscle samples have viral RNA.This was reported to be at very low levels and no virus was detected in muscle associated with the "usual" cuts and joints of beef.In beef offal, H5N1 has been detected in the lung at a titre of 2.8 Log 10 TCID 50 /mL and mammary glands at 7.3-7.8Log 10 TCID 50 /mL.This risk assessment is an update to a previous risk assessment (Rapid Risk Assessment: Risk to UK consumers from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 B3.13 in US dairy products | Food Standards Agency) to take into account the latest information and evidence.This assessment has also expanded the scope to include the risk from beef and other meat products exported to the UK from the USA.Therefore, this risk assessment will evaluate the risk of H5N1 to UK consumers from the consumption of pasteurised milk and pasteurised dairy products; raw/unpasteurised milk and raw/unpasteurised dairy products; colostrum and colostrum-based products; fresh meat including offal (i.e.meat from the bone); and minced meat imported from the US.This assessment updates a previous risk assessment carried out in April/ May 2024 on the risk to UK consumers from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 B3.13 in US dairy products (Rapid Risk Assessment: Risk to UK consumers from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 B3.13 in US dairy products | Food Standards Agency).It takes into account new information and scientific evidence which has emerged since, as well as to expand the scope of the assessment to include the risk from beef and other meat products exported to the UK from the USA.Products within scope of this assessment are therefore: pasteurised milk and pasteurised dairy products;