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Since March 2024, when a hen flu virus (H5N1) outbreak occurred in dairy cattle in america, dozens of home cats and wild cats, together with some in sanctuaries and zoos, have died from the virus. In line with the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation, cats appear to be inclined to extreme sickness from hen flu, typically leading to loss of life.
Right here’s what you could find out about hen flu to maintain your cat protected.
Hen Flu and Cats within the Information
Various instances of hen flu in cats had been reported in america in December 2024, together with the next:
The Santa Barbara County Public Well being Division confirmed two instances of H5 hen flu in home cats. In line with the Santa Barbara Impartial, the pet cats contracted hen flu after being fed uncooked milk, eggs, and rooster. Each cats, in addition to two others from the family, died from their sickness.
Two cats in Los Angeles died after ingesting recalled uncooked milk. The Los Angeles County Division of Public Well being confirmed H5 avian flu within the cats, and can also be investigating instances in different pet cats within the county.
About 20 huge cats at a Washington wildlife sanctuary known as the Wild Felid Advocacy Middle of Washington died from hen flu between November and December, and an outbreak at an Arizona zoo killed a number of animals, together with a cheetah and a mountain lion.
Additionally in December, Portland-based Northwest Naturals pet meals firm in December issued a voluntary recall of 1 batch of its 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe uncooked frozen pet meals. The recall got here after a home cat in Oregon died after consuming the meals, which later examined optimistic for hen flu (H5N1). Learn extra concerning the Northwest Naturals recall right here.
Hen Flu Danger to People
Throughout the 2024 outbreak, there have been 66 confirmed reported human instances of hen flu in america. Nonetheless, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) stated that the present public well being danger stays low. Nearly all of human infections have been traced again to exposures from business agriculture operations, reminiscent of dairy cattle herds and poultry farms.
Learn how to Maintain Cats Protected from Hen Flu
Hen flu is current in wild birds, poultry, and dairy cattle. To forestall hen flu transmission to cats, AVMA recommends pet homeowners to keep away from feeding uncooked meat-based meals and treats, in addition to uncooked milk and different uncooked dairy merchandise. Cats also can develop into contaminated with hen flu via publicity to contaminated wild birds, poultry, or publicity to the clothes of people that work on affected farms.
Maintain cats indoors, away from wildlife, livestock, poultry, and their environments, and call your veterinarian straight away in the event you suppose your cat might need been uncovered to the H5N1 hen flu virus.
“Though the danger of avian influenza continues to be thought-about pretty low, we do know that cats are inclined to the virus and reported instances in cats are on the rise, so I’d urge all cat homeowners to be alert and to contemplate taking wise precautions to scale back danger of an infection,” stated veterinarian Dr. Lizzie Youens BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS. “Cats which are fed a uncooked eating regimen are at larger danger of food-borne infections from micro organism and viruses, with unpasteurized (uncooked) milk and uncooked or improperly cooked meat recognized to be potential sources of hen flu an infection for cats.”
Dr. Youens stated a smart precaution to scale back the danger of contracting hen flu is for cat homeowners to keep away from feeding uncooked dietary merchandise and as an alternative feed a cooked, nutritionally full eating regimen for cats.
The AVMA gives these tricks to forestall H5N1 an infection in pet cats:
- Don’t feed cats any uncooked dairy merchandise or colostrum.
- Totally prepare dinner meat earlier than feeding it to cats.
- Don’t feed uncooked meat-based diets or treats.
- Maintain cats indoors to forestall publicity to birds and different wildlife.
- Keep away from contact with sick or lifeless birds and different wildlife your self.
- Maintain cats away from livestock, poultry, and their environments, particularly in areas with recognized H5N1 outbreaks.
- Totally wash your palms after dealing with your cat and after any encounters with poultry, livestock, or wild birds and different animals.
- Change your garments and footwear, and completely wash any uncovered pores and skin, after interacting with sick or lifeless animals that may harbor the H5N1 virus, and earlier than interacting together with your cat.
- Instantly contact your veterinarian in the event you discover indicators of H5N1 or suppose your cat might need been uncovered to the virus.
Though the danger of a cat spreading the H5N1 virus to people is extraordinarily low, it’s doable for contaminated cats to transmit the virus to individuals. When you suppose your was has been uncovered or is likely to be sick with the virus, seek the advice of together with your veterinarian and your human doctor on the subsequent steps to take.
