A house cat has died in Oregon after consuming raw frozen pet food contaminated with H5N1 avian flu, prompting a nationwide recall of the product. The cat’s death is part of a growing trend of avian flu infections in cats, with new detections reported in pets from California.
Tests confirmed that the cat’s virus matched the one from Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food. Oregon’s state veterinarian said the cat likely contracted the virus from the food, highlighting the risk of transmission through contaminated pet products.
The recall affects Northwest Naturals’ 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe raw & frozen pet food sold in 12 states plus British Columbia. The ODA is monitoring contacts with the sick cat and urges consumers to discard the product.
Meanwhile, H5N1 detections have been reported in dairy cattle (685 total), poultry flocks (25 new outbreaks), wild birds (over 60 detections), and backyard poultry in several states. These cases indicate the virus’s increasing presence across the US.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu/oregon-avian-flu-cat-death-prompts-nationwide-raw-pet-food-recall