Pet Food Recall: More Cats Sick After Bird Flu Found In Another Raw Pet Food Brand

CALIFORNIA — The bird flu virus has been found in another brand of raw pet food sold in California, public health officials announced.

A cat consumed food that tested positive for H5 bird flu virus, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Four other cats from the same household are believed to also have been exposed to the virus after eating food from Monarch Raw Pet Food, which is sold at several farmers markets in California.

Last week, a cat in Oregon died after eating a raw pet food product contaminated by bird flu.

Oregon-based Northwest Naturals voluntarily recalled its 2-pound turkey recipe raw and frozen pet food after it tested positive for the H5N1 strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, the Oregon Department of Agriculture announced. It was sold nationwide through distributors in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington, as well as British Columbia in Canada.

The Monarch products were sold at farmers market locations in Beaumont, Corona, Fountain Valley, Laguna Niguel, Orange, Palm Springs and San Jacinto.

Los Angeles public health officials on Tuesday warned residents to avoid consumption of "all raw milk and raw meat products and not feed these to their pets."

Cats infected with H5 bird flu virus can develop severe illness that may include neurologic signs, respiratory signs or liver disease that can lead to death, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Residents who fed their pets Monarch products or other raw meat or dairy products and notice their pet is experiencing symptoms should immediately contact their veterinarian, health officials said. The agency said there have been no human cases of the virus associated with exposure to these cats yet identified.