A feral cat from Hunterdon County, New Jersey, has tested positive for the highly contagious H5 avian flu virus, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The cat exhibited severe disease symptoms, including neurological issues, before being humanely euthanized. A second H5 infection was also detected in an indoor-outdoor cat at the same property.
Tests on other cats are pending, but officials stress that exposure to infected animals does not necessarily lead to infection, as none of the affected cats had known contact with poultry or other animal sources of the virus. However, health experts advise people to take precautions against potential infection through direct contact with animals.
As investigations continue, health officials in California’s San Mateo County reported an H5N1 case in a stray cat earlier this month. The New Jersey Department of Health is monitoring exposed individuals and urging the public to learn more about the virus and its risks.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu/new-jersey-reports-h5-avian-flu-cluster-cats