Additional Coverage:
- Up to 5 house cats sick as bird flu found in 2nd raw pet food brand: Health officials (newsbreak.com)
Bird Flu Detected in Second Raw Pet Food Brand in California
A second raw pet food brand sold at farmers markets in California has tested positive for bird flu. One cat has been confirmed infected, and four others in the same household are presumed sick.
Last week, another brand of raw pet food was linked to the death of a cat in Oregon. The latest cases involve Monarch Raw Pet Food, sold at locations listed on the company’s website.
Health officials urge pet owners to avoid feeding their animals raw food due to the bird flu risk. In a previous case, four cats consuming raw milk became sick and died.
Infected cats may experience neurological, respiratory, or liver issues that can lead to rapid death. There have been no human cases of bird flu linked to cats.
The overall risk to the public remains low. Human cases in the U.S. typically involve direct contact with infected animals. California has the highest number of human cases (37), with 66 confirmed nationwide.
Most human cases have been mild, and patients have recovered with antiviral treatment. Federal officials are now testing raw cow’s milk cheese and milk nationwide for bird flu.