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Since March 2024, when a chook 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 accordance with the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation, cats appear to be inclined to extreme sickness from chook flu, typically leading to dying.
Right here’s what it is advisable learn about chook flu to maintain your cat protected.
Fowl Flu and Cats within the Information
A variety of circumstances of chook flu in cats have been reported in america in December 2024, together with the next:
The Santa Barbara County Public Well being Division confirmed two circumstances of H5 chook flu in home cats. In accordance with the Santa Barbara Impartial, the pet cats contracted chook flu after being fed uncooked milk, eggs, and hen. 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 circumstances in different pet cats within the county.
About 20 large cats at a Washington wildlife sanctuary referred to as the Wild Felid Advocacy Middle of Washington died from chook 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 chook flu (H5N1). Learn extra concerning the Northwest Naturals recall right here.
Fowl Flu Danger to People
Throughout the 2024 outbreak, there have been 66 confirmed reported human circumstances of chook flu in america. Nonetheless, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) mentioned that the present public well being danger stays low. Nearly all of human infections have been traced again to exposures from business agriculture operations, equivalent to dairy cattle herds and poultry farms.
How one can Maintain Cats Secure from Fowl Flu
Fowl flu is current in wild birds, poultry, and dairy cattle. To forestall chook 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 may also change into contaminated with chook flu by 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 phone your veterinarian instantly for those who assume your cat might need been uncovered to the H5N1 chook flu virus.
“Though the danger of avian influenza remains to be thought-about pretty low, we do know that cats are inclined to the virus and reported circumstances in cats are on the rise, so I’d urge all cat homeowners to be alert and to think about taking smart precautions to scale back danger of an infection,” mentioned veterinarian Dr. Lizzie Youens BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS. “Cats which can be fed a uncooked weight loss plan are at increased 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 chook flu an infection for cats.”
Dr. Youens mentioned a wise precaution to scale back the danger of contracting chook flu is for cat homeowners to keep away from feeding uncooked dietary merchandise and as an alternative feed a cooked, nutritionally full weight loss plan for cats.
The AVMA provides 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 stop 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 totally wash any uncovered pores and skin, after interacting with sick or lifeless animals which may harbor the H5N1 virus, and earlier than interacting along with your cat.
- Instantly contact your veterinarian for those who discover indicators of H5N1 or assume your cat might need been uncovered to the virus.
Indicators of Fowl Flu in Cats
Early indicators of chook flu in cats can look very similar to many different diseases: urge for food loss, decreased power, and fever. Nonetheless, cats sick with chook flu can shortly change into worse. The AVMA shares these indicators of chook flu in cats:
- Neurologic indicators, equivalent to incoordination, circling, tremors, seizures, or blindness
- Extreme melancholy (little to little interest in doing something)
- Massive quantities of discharge from the eyes and nostril
- Different respiratory indicators, together with quick respiration, problem respiration, and presumably sneezing or coughing
Though the danger of a cat spreading the H5N1 virus to people is extraordinarily low, it’s attainable for contaminated cats to transmit the virus to folks. If you happen to assume your was has been uncovered or may be sick with the virus, seek the advice of along with your veterinarian and your human doctor on the following steps to take.
