More than a dozen cats sickened or died from bird flu in raw food, FDA reports | American news

Avian flu in raw foods has killed or sickened more than a dozen domestic cats in the United States, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

In a new statement reported Tuesday by CBS, the FDA said it was “aware of reports of death or illness associated with raw food in 13 domestic cats in eight households, 1 exotic cat in one household, and one unknown number of animals in two homes. sanctuaries for large cats.

The FDA added that cases had been found in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington, CBS reports.

Last Friday, the FDA asked cat and dog food manufacturers that use raw or pasteurized materials from cattle or poultry to consider H5N1 avian influenza in their food safety plans.

According to the FDA, the virus can be transmitted to cats and dogs when they consume products from infected poultry or cattle, such as unpasteurized milk, raw meat or unpasteurized eggs. In felines, this can cause serious illness or even death; dogs generally have milder clinical signs and lower mortality.

The H5N1 outbreak in the United States began last March when the virus was detected in dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas.

Twelve farm cats died after drinking infected raw milk at a Texas dairy last year, while in December 20 exotic cats, including a Bengal tiger, four cougars, a lynx and four bobcats, were killed. died in a Washington animal sanctuary.

According to a study published last year in the academic journal Emerging Microbes and infections, the H5N1 cat’s genomes had unique mutations that could suggest a “potential adaptation of the virus.” He found that cats could “serve as mixing vessels for the reassortment of avian and mammalian influenza viruses” as well as a “bridge” to infect other species.

Earlier this year, Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo announced that H5N1 virus infections had killed a Chilean flamingo and a harbor seal.

Since the outbreak, more than 20 million chickens have died, while 134 million birds in the poultry industry have been affected, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Speaking to reporters last week, Eric Deeble, deputy assistant secretary for marketing and regulatory programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said the agency was creating a new stockpile of vaccines against H5N1 for poultry.