The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) reported three additional cases of H5N1 avian flu in pet cats on Monday, linked to exposure to raw food or raw milk. These new cases bring the total number of infections in local pet cats to seven.
Earlier reports from LACDPH had confirmed four prior H5N1 infections in cats, including two fatalities linked to recalled raw milk. Investigations have suggested that raw food may also be a significant source of the virus. In one case, cats were exposed to Monarch Raw Pet Food, which was found to contain live, infectious H5N1. This brand is sold at California farmers’ markets, while Oregon health officials have also tied illnesses to the Northwest Natural brand, sold nationally.
The LACDPH detailed that one indoor cat became severely ill after consuming three different brands of commercially available raw pet food, with tests later confirming the presence of H5N1. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now testing these raw food samples as part of its ongoing investigation.
Additionally, five other cats from two households were confirmed to have contracted the virus after drinking recalled raw milk, all of which died from the infection.
The LACDPH stressed the serious risks posed by feeding pets raw food or raw milk, urging veterinarians to advise pet owners against these practices. The department is continuing to test more raw food samples to determine the extent of the contamination.
In related news, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed 11 more H5N1 infections in domestic cats across several states, including five from Los Angeles County and others from California’s Santa Barbara County, Colorado, Minnesota, and South Dakota. These detections, sampled in December 2024, come alongside reports of H5N1 in other wildlife, including a mountain lion from Nebraska and an ermine from Alaska.
Related Topics:
