Two house cats in Goleta have died from bird flu, according to Santa Barbara County Public Health officials. The cats were fed raw milk and uncooked chicken from two different households. The county warned pet owners about the risk of transmission of Influenza A H5 virus through unpasteurized dairy products.
The incident is linked to a larger outbreak of avian flu across the US, with cases reported in Texas, Oregon, and other states. Dairy workers have also been infected, and raw milk containing the virus has been found for sale in grocery stores since November.
Cats can be susceptible to bird flu, which can cause respiratory illness, neurological symptoms, or liver disease, leading to rapid death. The county advises that there is no evidence of cat-to-cat, cat-to-human, or human-to-human transmission. Pet owners are warned not to feed raw milk or uncooked foods to their pets.
The US Department of Agriculture has detected H5N1 in birds from geese to pigeons across the nation. In Washington State, 20 big cats have died at a rescue sanctuary, and four house cats in Los Angeles County were confirmed dead after drinking recalled raw milk.
Santa Barbara County Public Health advises pet owners to contact their local health department for questions about symptoms or potential exposure. The county’s 24-hour disease control line is (805) 681-5280, or email [email protected] for more information.
Source: https://www.independent.com/2024/12/26/death-of-two-house-cats-in-goleta-confirmed-to-be-bird-flu