Dozens of domestic cats, including at least 24 this year, have contracted the H5N1 virus, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Two of them were sacrificed in Oregon.
At least two oregon cats were sacrificed in recent weeks after consuming raw pets contaminated with avian flu, which led agriculture officials to issue a public health alert on Friday over products.
Oregon officials and the neighboring state of Washington warned that the avian flu virus was detected in raw pet food samples made by Wild Coast LLC of Olympia, Washington.
Two cats that lived in different homes in Multnomah County, Oregon, became ill after consuming raw pet food. After consulting with their veterinarians, the animals owners agreed to sacrifice pets due to the seriousness of their diseases, officials reported.
In both cases, veterinarians informed diseases to state officials. The staff collected samples of cats and open food containers. The tests in state and federal laboratories confirmed the presence of avian flu in cats and food.
Washington state officials also took packaging samples that had not been open and found the virus.
The officials identified the source as the free grazing chicken formula without Wild Coast, lots #22660 and #22664, with expiration dates in December.
Dozens of domestic cats, including at least 24 this year, have contracted the H5N1 virus, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Many of the animals were infected after consuming raw milk or raw pet food with the virus.
Pets infected with the H5N1 virus have symptoms that include fever, lethargy, low appetite, red or inflamed eyes, eyes and nose secretion, breathing difficulty and neurological damage signs, including tremors, seizures and blindness.
If a pet consumed raw food or milk or had access to outdoor birds, the owners must contact a veterinarian immediately.
Human cases of avian flu have not been linked with raw pet food management, but people can infect if the virus enters their eyes, nose or mouth.
The avian flu has been spreading in wild birds in the United States since 2022. The virus was first detected in the dairy cows of the country last year. He has infected more than 960 herds of cattle in 16 states.