https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-in...rms-avian-flu-cat-deaths-more-cases-suspected
Los Angeles County confirms avian flu in cat deaths as more cases suspected
Lisa Schnirring
58 minutes ago.
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
In other developments, health officials in Wisconsin and Louisiana shared a few more illness details on recently announced suspected and confirmed human cases, respectively, and federal officials confirmed more outbreaks in cows and poultry.
Raw meat may be culprit in latest cat illnesses
The confirmed LA County infections involve indoor cats from the same household, which were initially announced as suspected cases on December 12. After drinking raw milk from Raw Farm, the cats experienced appetite loss, fever, and neurologic signs. They initially tested positive for influenza A, which officials said is rare in cats. Other pets in the household are under quarantine.
Meanwhile, officials are investigating possible infections in three other cats from a different household. One tested positive for influenza A, and the others died from presumed influenza A. Confirmation tests are under way.
The three cats with suspected infections don't have any known exposure to raw milk, and investigators are examining other potential sources of the virus, including raw meat. People exposed to the three cats are under symptom monitoring and have been offered antiviral prophylaxis.
Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, Med, director of LACDPH, said, "The risk of H5 bird flu remains low in Los Angeles County, but these confirmed cases of the virus in pet cats are a reminder that consuming raw dairy and meat products can lead to severe illness in cats."
She urged residents and their pets to avoid raw milk and undercooked meat products, limit exposure to sick and dead animals, report sick and dead birds, and keep pets and poultry away from wild birds.
More details on recent human cases
In other developments, Wisconsin health officials shared more details about the state's first presumptive positive case, announced yesterday.
At a media briefing following the announcement yesterday, Thomas Haupt, MS, respiratory disease epidemiologist with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, said the patient is a woman who worked on a farm and had mild flu symptoms that included sore throat, a slight fever, fatigue, and some eye discharge. She has finished a course of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and is recovering.
Darlene Konkle, DVM, Wisconsin's state veterinarian, said though the genotype isn't known, the virus that infected the worker is likely a genotype circulating in wild birds, given that Wisconsin doesn't have any outbreaks of the B3.13 virus in dairy cattle.
Regarding Louisiana’s recently confirmed severe case, BNO News reported yesterday, citing a health department spokeswoman, that the patient is older than 65 years and has underlying medical conditions. The patient remains hospitalized and is in critical condition.
More confirmations in dairy cows, poultry
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today confirmed yet another outbreak in dairy cattle in California. The confirmation lifts the state's total since late August to 650 and the national total to 866 across 16 states.
In addition, APHIS confirmed more poultry outbreaks in four states, including a backyard flock in Louisiana's Jefferson Davis Parish in the southwest, marking the state's second such outbreak. Two other confirmations were in backyard flocks North Dakota's Nelson County and Iowa's Monona County.
Meanwhile, the virus was confirmed at more commercial farms, including layer facilities in Iowa's O'Brien and Sioux counties, a turkey farm in Iowa's Worth County, and a layer pullet farm in California's Merced County.
In a related development, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection yesterday reported a second outbreak in poultry, this time in Kenosha County in the southeast corner of the state.
Los Angeles County confirms avian flu in cat deaths as more cases suspected
Lisa Schnirring
58 minutes ago.
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) said yesterday that tests have confirmed H5 avian flu in two cats that died after drinking recalled raw milk that it is investigating three other possible cases in cats that weren't exposed to raw milk.In other developments, health officials in Wisconsin and Louisiana shared a few more illness details on recently announced suspected and confirmed human cases, respectively, and federal officials confirmed more outbreaks in cows and poultry.
Raw meat may be culprit in latest cat illnesses
The confirmed LA County infections involve indoor cats from the same household, which were initially announced as suspected cases on December 12. After drinking raw milk from Raw Farm, the cats experienced appetite loss, fever, and neurologic signs. They initially tested positive for influenza A, which officials said is rare in cats. Other pets in the household are under quarantine.
Meanwhile, officials are investigating possible infections in three other cats from a different household. One tested positive for influenza A, and the others died from presumed influenza A. Confirmation tests are under way.
The three cats with suspected infections don't have any known exposure to raw milk, and investigators are examining other potential sources of the virus, including raw meat. People exposed to the three cats are under symptom monitoring and have been offered antiviral prophylaxis.
Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, Med, director of LACDPH, said, "The risk of H5 bird flu remains low in Los Angeles County, but these confirmed cases of the virus in pet cats are a reminder that consuming raw dairy and meat products can lead to severe illness in cats."
She urged residents and their pets to avoid raw milk and undercooked meat products, limit exposure to sick and dead animals, report sick and dead birds, and keep pets and poultry away from wild birds.
More details on recent human cases
In other developments, Wisconsin health officials shared more details about the state's first presumptive positive case, announced yesterday.
At a media briefing following the announcement yesterday, Thomas Haupt, MS, respiratory disease epidemiologist with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, said the patient is a woman who worked on a farm and had mild flu symptoms that included sore throat, a slight fever, fatigue, and some eye discharge. She has finished a course of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and is recovering.
Darlene Konkle, DVM, Wisconsin's state veterinarian, said though the genotype isn't known, the virus that infected the worker is likely a genotype circulating in wild birds, given that Wisconsin doesn't have any outbreaks of the B3.13 virus in dairy cattle.
Regarding Louisiana’s recently confirmed severe case, BNO News reported yesterday, citing a health department spokeswoman, that the patient is older than 65 years and has underlying medical conditions. The patient remains hospitalized and is in critical condition.
More confirmations in dairy cows, poultry
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today confirmed yet another outbreak in dairy cattle in California. The confirmation lifts the state's total since late August to 650 and the national total to 866 across 16 states.
In addition, APHIS confirmed more poultry outbreaks in four states, including a backyard flock in Louisiana's Jefferson Davis Parish in the southwest, marking the state's second such outbreak. Two other confirmations were in backyard flocks North Dakota's Nelson County and Iowa's Monona County.
Meanwhile, the virus was confirmed at more commercial farms, including layer facilities in Iowa's O'Brien and Sioux counties, a turkey farm in Iowa's Worth County, and a layer pullet farm in California's Merced County.
In a related development, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection yesterday reported a second outbreak in poultry, this time in Kenosha County in the southeast corner of the state.