As many unanswered questions remain about the recent outbreaks of High-Path Avian Flu (HPAI) H5N1 in dairy cattle, researchers are looking at many possible options on how the virus is being transmitted — including wastewater testing.
According to the pre-published results of a wastewater study conducted in Texas by researchers at Baylor University, wastewater from 10 cities across the state was tested. Of those samples, nine tested positive for HPAI.
The specific city names were not included in the study (researchers said these cities’ identities are masked at the request of local public health officials and water utilities), but the geographic spread encompasses areas across the state. In those places, 23 total samples were collected and 19 tested positive. A least one positive sample was collected from nine of the 10 cities where samples were collected.
Here is the researcher’s conclusion:
In conclusion, we report the widespread detection of Influenza A H5N1 virus in wastewater from nine U.S. cities during the spring of 2024. Although the exact cause of the signal is currently unknown, lack of clinical burden along with genomic information suggests avian or bovine origin. Given the now widespread presence of the virus in dairy cows, the concerning findings that unpasteurized milk may contain live virus, and that these two recent factors will increase the number of viral interactions with our species, wastewater monitoring should be readily considered as a sentinel surveillance tool that augments and accelerates our detection of evolutionary adaptations of significant concern.
Virome Sequencing Identifies H5N1 Avian Influenza in Wastewater from Nine Cities
Michael J. Tisza, et. al.
Read the full pre-published study:
NOTE: This article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review [what does this mean?]. It reports new medical research that has yet to be evaluated and so should not be used to guide clinical practice.
Federal aid helps, but producers will bear most of the losses. Balance sheets may look stable, but margins remain fragile without policy support.
February 18, 2026 01:49 PM
·
RFD NEWS Markets Specialist Tony St. James reviews the USDA’s Farms and Land in Farms 2025 Summary.
February 18, 2026 01:38 PM
·
Strong corn exports support prices while soybeans lag yearly pace. However, large carryover stocks limit upside despite solid yields.
February 18, 2026 12:41 PM
·
Fuel costs ease over the long term, but fertilizer energy remains volatile.
February 18, 2026 11:47 AM
·
South Texas farmers say water shortages continue despite Mexico’s renewed payments under the 1944 Water Treaty.
February 18, 2026 11:39 AM
·
Slightly higher sales amid shrinking acreage and inventories point to tighter supplies supporting catfish prices.
February 16, 2026 04:00 PM
·
