A cat has died in Oregon after eating pet food contaminated with bird flu, prompting a nationwide recall of raw frozen pet food. Northwest Naturals, a Portland-based company, has recalled one batch of its Feline Turkey Recipe product due to the presence of H5N1 virus. The affected product was sold through distributors in 12 states and Canada.
According to Oregon authorities, the cat was an indoor animal that contracted the virus by eating contaminated pet food. Genome sequencing confirmed that the virus from the pet food matched those found in the infected cat. Consumers who purchased the recalled product are advised to dispose of it immediately and contact their place of purchase for a refund.
While no human cases have been directly linked to the incident, those in contact with the infected cat are being monitored for flu symptoms. The CDC has confirmed one human case of bird flu in Oregon, and several others in nearby states. This marks the latest development in a wave of outbreaks related to bird flu, including a pig found infected at an Oregon backyard farm in October.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/cat-pet-food-bird-flu-oregon-recall-06e944714a3e703cf4913f88533c6a33