Aside from the egg shortage, one of the biggest ways the bird flu is hitting people close to home is by domestic cats getting sickened by the disease. At first, this was a concern for cats who lived on or near dairy farms, but the risk greatly increased after raw cat food was found to be contaminated with bird flu in December. And now a new recall is once again heightening these fears.
RELATED: 9,600 Pounds of Dog Food Recalled Over Serious Health Risks.
The first batch of raw cat food was recalled in December.
Late last year, Portland, Oregon-based pet food brand Northwest Naturals voluntarily recalled one batch of its two-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen cat food "after it was tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus," the company said in a Dec. 24 notice.
The cat food was sold in 12 U.S. states, and it was confirmed to have killed one household cat in Oregon.
The latest recall has killed two cats.
FDA
On March 1, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced another raw cat food recall, this one from Olympia, Washington-based pet food brand Wild Coast Raw.
According to the FDA, the 16- and 24-ounce frozen Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula raw pet food was distributed to pet food retailers in Washington State and Oregon, and "has the potential to be contaminated with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 also known as bird flu."
Initially, this recall only included two lot codes (which can be identified by a sticker on the product's lid): #22660 and #22664. Now, however, it also includes #22653, #22641, #22639, and #22672. They all have a Best Buy date of 12/25.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) was first made aware of the potentially contaminated food in February after two cats in Oregon fell ill. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) tested the cats and the food and "confirmed the presence of HPAI in both."
"Due to the severity of the illness," the cat owners and their veterinarians elected to euthanize the animals, according to the WSDA.
RELATED: Bird Flu Spreading in Cats—These Are the Symptoms.
How to know if your cat is sick:
If you believe you have the affected raw cat food, discard it immediately and contact the place of purchase for a full refund. If you're concerned that your cat may have consumed this food or any other potentially contaminated food, the FDA says these are the signs of bird flu in cats to be aware of:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Low appetite
- Reddened or inflamed eyes
- Discharge from the eyes and nose
- Difficulty breathing
- Neurological signs like tremors, stiff body movements, seizure, lack of coordination, or blindness
If your cat exhibits any of these symptoms, see a veterinarian immediately.
How to keep your cat safe from bird flu:
As these recalls show, one of the best ways to keep your cat safe from bird flu is to avoid feeding them raw or undercooked meat, "including uncooked or freeze-dried meat-based diets, treats, or animal products," states the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association. They also caution against feeding pets "raw (unpasteurized) milk or colostrum." The association shares the following additional ways to protect your cat:
- Keep pets away from wild birds, poultry, and cattle
- Prevent pets from eating birds or other wild animals
- Wash your hands after touching raw meat and after interacting with poultry, livestock or animals outside your household
- Consider changing clothing and shoes after interacting with animals or birds with unknown health status and before interacting with your own pets
How to keep yourself safe from bird flu:
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that only four human cases of bird flu have ever been reported in the U.S. (one of which resulted in death).
At the time of writing, no human cases of bird flu have been linked to the raw cat food recalls. However, as the FDA states, if handling cat food or pet supplies like bowls, "people can become infected if the virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth."
Again, avoiding raw food altogether will help keep you safe from bird flu, but the FDA also recommends the following precautionary measures:
- Wash your hands after handling the raw food
- Sanitize surfaces that may have come in contact with the food, such as countertops, refrigerators, bowls, or utensils
The FDA says these are the most common symptoms of bird flu in humans:
- Eye redness or irritation (conjunctivitis)
- Cough, sore throat, sneezing, runny/stuffy nose
- Muscle/body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Trouble breathing
- Seizures
- Rash
- Diarrhea, nausea, and/or vomiting
The CDC says the most prominent symptom of bird flu that's been seen in humans is "eye redness."
If you're concerned you've been infected with or exposed to bird flu, seek medical attention immediately.
