More LA cats appear to be infected with H5N1 bird flu

Consultants imagine three extra cats in Los Angeles County have been contaminated with H5N1 chicken flu. Two others succumbed to the illness earlier this month after ingesting recalled uncooked milk from Fresno-based Uncooked Farm LLC dairies.

Of the three new sick cats, two died and one examined constructive for influenza A, an uncommon discovering in home cats that have not been uncovered to contaminated birds or contaminated dairy merchandise. The 2 that died could not be examined whereas they had been alive, however consultants imagine it’s doubtless their deaths had been as a result of H5N1 virus.

The three cats all lived in the identical family.

Influenza A viruses embody most seasonal human flu viruses, in addition to H5N1. Well being officers aren’t but certain the place the cats acquired H5N1—though they famous in a press release they’re investigating uncooked meat as a supply and had been awaiting take a look at outcomes.

“The chance of H5 chicken flu stays low in Los Angeles County, however these confirmed circumstances of the virus in pet cats are a reminder that consuming uncooked dairy and meat merchandise can result in extreme sickness in cats,” mentioned Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Division of Public Well being, in a press release.

She urged county residents “to keep away from uncooked dairy and undercooked meat merchandise, restrict contact with sick or lifeless animals, report sick or lifeless birds and hold pets or poultry away from wild animals and birds.”

The three newest cats all exhibited respiratory sickness, and haven’t any identified publicity to uncooked milk; investigators are trying into whether or not the animals ate uncooked meat.

The cats lived solely indoors, in response to well being officers.

Individuals who had direct contact with the cats are being monitored for signs and have been supplied antiviral medicines. There have been circumstances of cat-to-human transmission of chicken flu, in response to researchers.

It’s unclear what number of cats have died since H5N1 started circulating in dairy cows earlier this yr. They’re extraordinarily vulnerable to the virus, nevertheless, and lifeless barn cats are thought-about an early organic warning {that a} dairy has been affected by the virus.

At one Texas dairy farm this spring, 12 barn cats died after ingesting contaminated uncooked milk. Sykes additionally famous a 2023 outbreak in South Korea, wherein shelter cats ate pet meals made with H5N1-infected uncooked duck. In a single shelter, 38 of 40 cats died after consuming the contaminated meals.

Final yr, the World Well being Group reported sporadic deaths of cats all through areas the place H5N1 chicken flu was circulating, together with at one location in Poland, the place a cluster of 46 died; 29 of these animals had been discovered to be constructive for the chicken flu virus.

Bigger cats, together with captive lions, tigers and panthers, have additionally died on account of consuming meat contaminated with chicken flu. So, too, have wild California bobcats and mountain lions.

Signs of H5N1 an infection in cats embody labored respiration, bloody diarrhea and neurological abnormalities—lack of motor management, seizures, depressed psychological state, stiff physique actions, blindness, circling, copious eye and nostril discharge and coma—with speedy deterioration and demise in some circumstances.

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