A new outbreak of bird flu has emerged, with reports of two cats dying from consumption of recalled raw milk in Los Angeles County. The LA County Department of Public Health is investigating the deaths, which were characterized by symptoms such as lack of appetite, fever, and neurologic issues.
The US Department of Agriculture has recently issued a new order requiring all raw (unpasteurized) milk to be tested for bird flu. This comes after multiple states have reported outbreaks of the virus in dairy cattle, poultry, waterfowl, and wild birds.
Health officials are taking the suspected cases seriously, with confirmatory testing underway. While the risk of H5 bird flu remains low in Los Angeles County, experts warn that consuming raw dairy products can lead to severe illness in cats.
The situation is getting worse, according to animal health expert Sam Scarpino, PhD. “Continued signs” indicate that the US is seeing more and more cases of H5N1. Dr. Jacob Glanville of Centivax emphasizes that even a single mutation could significantly enhance its infectivity in humans, making raw milk consumption a potential risk.
To avoid spreading disease, officials recommend avoiding raw dairy products, limiting contact with sick or dead animals, reporting sick or dead birds, and keeping pets or poultry away from wild animals and birds. Experts stress the importance of drinking pasteurized milk to prevent the spread of harmful pathogens commonly found in raw milk.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/bird-flu-causes-deaths-cats-zoo-animals-virus-spread-us