Bovine highly pathogenic avian influenza virus stability and inactivation in the milk byproduct lactose.

A bovine isolate of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus was stable for 14 days in a concentrated lactose solution at under refrigerated conditions. Heat or citric acid treatments successfully inactivated viruses in lactose. This study highlights the persistence of HPAIV in lactose and its efficient inactivation under industrial standards.