Los Angeles county public well being officers have issued a brand new warning to pet house owners to cease feeding canine and cats uncooked pet meals after the H5N1 bird flu virus was present in product samples.
“The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is advising residents to not feed their pets Monarch Raw Pet Food offered at a number of farmers markets in California,” the company mentioned, noting that an L.A. county home cat that was fed the product had been confirmed to have the virus. Four different cats from the identical dwelling had been “presumed to have additionally been optimistic for H5 chook flu after consuming the product.”
The well being division urged residents who fed their pets the Monarch uncooked meals merchandise or some other uncooked meat or dairy gadgets and seen their animal exhibiting any uncommon habits to right away contact their veterinarian.
“Residents ought to keep away from consumption of all uncooked milk and uncooked meat merchandise and never feed these to their pets,” the company pressured in its assertion Tuesday.
Cats contaminated with H5N1 chook flu can develop extreme sickness with signs starting from neurological modifications and respiratory issues to liver illness, which may quickly progress to loss of life.
The well being company mentioned there had been no human instances of chook flu related to publicity to those cats but recognized.
The Los Angeles well being company didn’t point out any formal recall of the Monarch merchandise on Tuesday, and the corporate additionally offered no details about a recall, or the chook flu instances on its web site.
Warning comes after earlier uncooked pet meals recall over chook flu
The loss of life of an Oregon home cat and a recent pet food recall had already raised questions in regards to the ongoing outbreak of chook flu and the way folks can shield their pets.
Northwest Naturals, a pet meals firm in Portland, Oregon, introduced a voluntary recall Tuesday of 1 batch of its 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe uncooked frozen pet meals after it examined optimistic for the virus. The product was offered in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, in addition to Canada’s British Columbia.
Northwest Naturals
The recalled meals has “greatest if utilized by” dates of May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. Consumers ought to throw it away and call the place of buy for a refund.
Bird flu has been spreading for years in wild birds, chickens, turkeys and plenty of different animals. It was first confirmed in U.S. dairy cattle in March.
The virus has been inflicting sporadic, largely gentle sicknesses in folks within the U.S., and practically all of these contaminated labored on dairy or poultry farms. When the virus is discovered, each chook on a farm is killed to restrict the unfold of the illness.
Top vet warns towards uncooked meals for pets
Oregon well being officers traced the cat’s sickness to the frozen Northwest Naturals cat meals that contained uncooked turkey. Virus recovered from the recalled pet meals and the contaminated cat matched.
Some pet house owners feed their animals uncooked meat, however that may be harmful, even deadly for the animals, mentioned Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Cooking meat or pasteurizing uncooked milk destroys the chook flu virus and different disease-causing germs.
“Raw milk, uncooked meat merchandise might be and are a vector for carrying this virus,” he mentioned.
Though instances of an infection are uncommon, cats appear particularly inclined to the chook flu virus, or Type A H5N1. Even earlier than the cattle outbreak, there have been feline instances linked to wild birds or poultry. Since March, dozens of cats have caught the virus. These embrace barn and feral cats, indoor cats, and massive cats in zoos and within the wild.
Dogs appear to be much less susceptible than cats, however they need to eat solely completely cooked meals, Bailey mentioned.
Cats mustn’t drink unpasteurized dairy merchandise or eat uncooked meat, Bailey mentioned, and pet house owners ought to maintain cats away from wild birds, livestock and poultry.
Don’t allow them to wander freely within the outdoor, he mentioned, “as a result of you do not know what they’re stepping into. Cats are pure hunters, and one of many animals they like to hunt are birds.”
Cat proprietor anxious about chook flu? Here’s what to know.
Experts say folks ought to keep away from touching sick or lifeless birds, and completely wash your fingers after dealing with poultry or animals.
Cats sick with chook flu may expertise lack of urge for food, lethargy and fever.
If your cat is often playful and likes to look out the window, however as an alternative has been sleeping on a regular basis or hiding from you, take word, Bailey mentioned. “There’s one thing incorrect,” he mentioned.
They might have reddened or infected eyes and discharge from the eyes and nostril. They may need problem respiratory or have tremors or seizures.
If your cat is sick, name your veterinary clinic and maintain the cat away from anybody with a weakened immune system.
Can pets transmit chook flu to house owners?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is unlikely a pet owner wiget sick with bird flu by direct contact with an contaminated pet, however it’s potential.
The well being company famous that in 2016, the unfold of bird flu from a cat to a person was reported in New York City. The contaminated particular person, a veterinarian, had gentle flu signs after extended publicity to sick cats with out utilizing private protecting tools.
contributed to this report.
