Bird Flu Suspected In LA County Cat Deaths

LOS ANGELES, CA — Two cats in Los Angeles County died in what health officials suspect may have been cases of H5 bird flu contracted from ingesting recalled raw milk, county health officials announced Thursday.

According to the county Department of Public Health, the two cats drank milk from Raw Farm LLC. Soon after, the cats sickened, losing their appetites and developing fever and neurologic symptoms. They died and tested positive for Influenza A, which is rare for cats. Now, health officials are waiting for test results to confirm that the cats contracted H5 bird flu.

There have been no known cases of humans contracting bird flu from infected cats. However, cats have been known to transfer other strains of flu to humans.

"Although human cases of bird flu are rare and the risk to residents remains low, this detection of H5 bird flu in cats who consumed raw milk underscores the importance of being proactive about preventing ongoing transmission of the virus," the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health warnned Thursday.

The people exposed to the sick cats have been offered antiviral prophylaxis.

“The risk of H5 bird flu remains low in Los Angeles County, but this suspected case of the virus in a pet cat that consumed raw milk is a reminder that consuming raw dairy products can lead to severe illness in cats," said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “To avoid the spread of disease, including H5 bird flu, we strongly encourage residents and their pets to avoid raw dairy and undercooked meat products, limit contact with sick or dead animals, report sick or dead birds and keep pets or poultry away from wild animals and birds.”

"The nationwide H5 bird flu outbreak has seen other cats infected with the virus after consuming infected raw milk," the health department added.

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, cats may be exposed to H5 bird flu by:

• consuming infected birds or other animals,
• being in environments contaminated with the virus, and
• consuming unpasteurized milk from infected cows.

County health officials warned that raw milk can carry harmful germs including influenza that can present serious health risks to people and their pets. The people at the highest risk for severe illness include people who are pregnant, adults 65 years and older, children younger than 5 years, and people with weakened immune systems, according to the health department.

Health officials encourage residents to avoid consuming raw milk and to not feed it to their pets. Pasteurized milk remains safe to drink.

Symptoms of H5 bird flu infection in humans include:

• eye redness or discharge,
• cough,
• sore throat,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• diarrhea,
• vomiting,
• muscle or body aches,
• headaches,
• fatigue,
• trouble breathing
• and fever.

Anyone who has consumed these specific recalled raw milk products and is experiencing symptoms should immediately contact their health care provider or local health department.

The public health department encourages these best practices:

• Avoid Raw Dairy and Undercooked Meat Products: Do not drink raw milk or eat raw cheeses and undercooked meat products. Do not feed these to your pets. Raw milk, even from healthy cows, may be contaminated with harmful germs that can make you and your pets very sick. Freezing raw milk does not eliminate the harmful germs that may be in the product.
• Limit Contact with Animals: Avoid unprotected contact with sick or dead animals or birds or any materials contaminated with bird feces. Avoid handling wild birds and observe them only from a distance. If you have to handle wild birds, even if they appear healthy, wear a well-fitting mask and gloves, and practice good hand hygiene, as some birds may carry the virus without showing symptoms.
• Report sick or dead birds: Contact your local animal control agency if you see sick or dead birds. Symptoms can vary; infected birds or animals may be unable to fly, have seizures, have difficulty walking or be found dead.
• Protect pets or poultry: Keep pets or poultry away from wild animals and birds. Ensure that wild birds cannot defecate into areas holding or housing pet birds or poultry.
• Remove Bird Feeders and Baths: Take down bird feeders and communal bird baths to reduce the risk of the virus spreading from bird-to-bird.
• Get a Seasonal Flu Vaccine: People should receive a seasonal flu vaccine. While this vaccine does not prevent avian influenza infection, it can reduce the risk of getting sick with human and bird flu viruses at the same time.