Twenty exotic cats, including a Bengal tiger and four cougars, have died after contracting bird flu at an animal sanctuary in Washington state. The outbreak occurred between late November and mid-December at the Wild Felid Advocacy Center.
The director of the center, Mark Mathews, stated that this is a “pretty wicked virus” that caused a severe illness among the cats. However, three other cats have recovered from the virus, and one remains in critical condition.
The center initially closed to the public due to an unknown illness but later confirmed bird flu was present among some of its cats. The animal health officials said the center is equipped to manage viruses effectively by enforcing strict biosecurity measures.
A nationwide outbreak of bird flu has been reported across the US, infecting domestic cats and causing severe illnesses in people. A recall of raw frozen pet food was issued due to the presence of the virus in a batch sold across multiple states.
The Washington department of fish and wildlife confirmed avian influenza infections in numerous wild birds this fall, while Oregon authorities recently found H5N1 virus in two cougars. An indoor cat in Oregon died after eating contaminated pet food, prompting the recall.
Bird flu has also infected dairy cattle herds in California, with most cows testing positive for H5N1. In the US, there have been at least 61 human cases reported so far, mostly experiencing mild symptoms.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/25/twenty-big-cats-die-bird-flu