Alarm in California: Two Cats Die from Bird Flu, Three More Infected! What Pet Owners Need to Know!

In a troubling development in Los Angeles County, health officials are conducting an urgent investigation into three household cats presumed to have contracted bird flu. This comes on the heels of the confirmation of two tragic fatalities among the feline population, both linked to infected raw milk from a recalled dairy product.

On Wednesday, Los Angeles County's Department of Public Health confirmed the shocking cases of H5 bird flu in the two now-deceased cats, who had reportedly consumed raw milk from Raw Farm, a dairy located in Fresno, California. This particular product had previously been recalled due to safety concerns. Witnesses noted that the cats showed alarming symptoms, including severe lethargy, a marked decrease in appetite, fever, and unusual neurological signs. Unfortunately, as their condition deteriorated, tests revealed they were infected with the H5 subtype of avian influenza, a rare occurrence in domestic cats.

Authorities believe the three additional cats now under suspicion were living in the same environment, though they do not appear to have ingested the same raw milk. Investigators are currently exploring other potential sources of infection, such as raw meats. There is heightened awareness of cats’ susceptibility to bird flu, as they can harbor and transmit various strains of flu viruses, though so far, there have been no documented cases of transmission from infected cats to humans regarding the H5 virus.

Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, issued a critical warning: 'The risk of H5 bird flu remains low in Los Angeles County, but these confirmed cases remind us that consuming raw dairy and meat products can lead to severe health issues in pets.' She emphasized that residents should take preventative measures, such as avoiding raw dairy and undercooked meats, and limiting interactions with sick or wildlife animals.

This alarming information arrives concurrently with Governor Gavin Newsom’s declaration of a state of emergency, as the H5N1 virus is spreading from California’s Central Valley to dairy herds in the south. The situation has escalated, especially after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first human case of severe bird flu in Louisiana, where a 65-year-old individual is currently in critical condition. This case is believed to stem from exposure to a backyard flock infected by migrating birds.

Adding to the alarm, genomic analyses indicated that the strain infecting the Louisiana patient is evolving, further complicating public health concerns surrounding the bird flu. More than 846 cattle herds have been adversely affected across 16 states, leading to disruptions in milk supplies.

Experts are particularly concerned about the mutation potential of the virus in cats. A recent study published in the Emerging Microbes & Infections journal revealed that certain cells in cats could facilitate the mixing of avian and mammalian viruses, thus raising fears of new strains capable of infecting humans.

Public health officials are urging pet owners to heed this warning and avoid giving raw milk to their pets, emphasizing that domestic cats could inadvertently serve as vectors for bird flu to spill over into human populations. Recent studies also corroborate that having contact with sick or dead animals carries risks, and the CDC has reported at least 61 human cases of bird flu in the US since April, primarily linked to livestock exposure.

In light of this growing threat, residents of Los Angeles are advised to take extra precautions—avoiding raw dairy products, limiting contact with contaminated animals, and removing bird feeders to minimize risks of viral transmission.

Pet owners must stay vigilant and informed: the stakes have never been higher when it comes to our feline friends and their potential role in the spread of avian influenza.