1st Cat In NJ Confirmed With Bird Flu In Hunterdon County

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ — The first feline case of the bird flu in New Jersey has been confirmed in a feral cat in Hunterdon County, according to the NJ Department of Health on Friday.

The case of H5 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI or “bird flu”) was confirmed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory, and follows previous national reports of confirmed feline cases in other states.

The cat developed severe disease, including neurologic signs, and was euthanized humanely, said state health officials.

Other cats on the same property were also reported ill, and one other indoor-outdoor cat was also confirmed positive for H5 HPAI. Other tests are still pending, and the investigation is ongoing.

The Hunterdon County Health Department said it "is working closely with the New Jersey Department of Health to investigate a confirmed case of H5 Avian Influenza in a cat in Hunterdon County."

Local health officials are also working closely with the New Jersey Department of Health in conducting follow-up and symptom monitoring on those that have been in contact with these cats.

"All exposed people are currently asymptomatic. Residents who have had close, unprotected contact with a cat or other animal infected with H5 HPAI should contact their local health department and monitor themselves for symptoms for 10 days following their last exposure," according to the NJ Department of Health. "The overall public health risk remains low at this time."

While H5 HPAI has been detected in humans in the U.S. – primarily in individuals with close contact with infected poultry or dairy cattle – there have been no human cases reported in New Jersey, and none of the cases across the country are known to have resulted from exposure to an infected cat.

Below are some tips to keep safe from the bird flu:

• Avoid contact with sick or dead birds and other wildlife yourself.
• Thoroughly wash your hands after handling your cat and after any encounters with poultry, livestock, or wild birds and other animals.
• Change your clothes and shoes, and thoroughly wash any exposed skin, after interacting with sick or dead animals that may harbor the H5N1 virus, and before interacting with your cat.
• Contact a veterinarian if you notice signs of H5 HPAI or think your cat might have been exposed to the virus.

"The H5N1 virus has the ability to move from one species to another," New Jersey Agriculture Secretary Ed Wengryn said. "That is why we have worked closely with our poultry and dairy industries on biosecurity measures to prevent exposure by wild animals, and feral cats are another example of the risks to livestock and humans."

What to do if you find a sick or dead bird:

• If you find sick or dead wild birds, do not handle them. Contact the NJDEP’s Fish and Wildlife hotline at 1-877-WARNDEP.
• To report sick or dead poultry, do not handle them. Contact the NJDA Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400.

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