In a column last May I wrote about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAF), commonly called H5NI bird flu.
This virus is highly contagious and is widespread in wild birds, and seems to be especially deadly to waterfowl. It has devastated poultry flocks and raised the price of eggs. The May column included practical advice to protect your home chicken flock.
What we feared most – the possibility of a strain of bird flu mutating and “jumping” from birds to mammals -- has now happened. Early reports were about bird flu being found in dairy herds in Texas, and at least one person working with the cows also coming down with a mild case of the flu.
More recently, a high percentage of California dairy herds tested positive for bird flu. Although the cows recovered from mild illness, the bird flu virus is turning up in raw milk.
The virus is killed by the pasteurization process, but in an abundance of caution, the California Department of Health has banned the sale of raw milk. The agency’s press releases emphasize the risk to humans is low at this point.
However domestic cats, for unknown reasons, seem especially vulnerable to bird flu. The most frequent mammalian victims of bird flu have been the barn cats associated with dairy herds. The barn cats, who had access to raw milk, were becoming infected and died at an alarmingly high rate.
If this update only involved California, I might have postponed writing an update, but unfortunately, bird flu is striking cats in the northwest as well.
Near Shelton, is the Wild Felid Advocacy Center, a refuge for various species of injured wild cats and abandoned former pets -- mountain lions and bobcats, but also various African and crossbred wild cats. I
n the last month, 20 of these cats have died of bird flu. No one knows the source of the infections – they are not fed raw milk – but it seems that once one of the cats was infected the disease spread to others quickly.
The center is going through a process of extensive cleaning and sterilization (and isolation, of course), and as of Dec. 20 the deaths of the cats have ceased. So far, no humans working at the center have become sick.
However, sometimes the disease caused by the bird flu virus can be more or less asymptomatic, presenting as a mild cold or with no symptoms at all. The only certain way to determine an infection is a blood test to look for the presence of antibodies specific to this disease.
After the outbreak of bird flu in cats became known, many people immediately wondered about whether there was a risk to dogs as well. One researcher took blood samples in Washington from 200 hunting dogs (dogs that were exposed to waterfowl). Four of the 200 were found to have been infected, but remained healthy. So, dogs may be somewhat vulnerable to bird flu infection, but perhaps less vulnerable to illness than cats.
Then there was the blockbuster news last week that an indoor cat in Oregon had died of bird flu. Because this cat lived an entirely indoor life as a single cat, it could not have been infected through contact with sick birds.
Therefore, researchers from the Oregon Department of Health followed up and determined that the source of the infection was frozen raw turkey cat food sold under the brand name “Northwest Naturals.” The company has now issued a voluntary recall of the product (https://www.nw-naturals.net/12-24-24-voluntary-product-recall/ )
What I find most disturbing about this story is that, unlike human food, raw and potentially contaminated pet food is sold without any federal or state regulatory oversight.
Some people may dismiss the threat of bird flu to humans, but it is worth remembering that the so-called Spanish Flu of 1918, which killed millions of humans, was actually a different strain of this same H5N1 bird flu. Therefore, it is of some risk to humans and of greater and more immediate risk to our pet cats.
What steps should you take? The obvious one is to not feed cats raw milk or meat, and to keep cats indoors to avoid contact with potentially infected birds.
But realistically, many cats do spend time outside. You can monitor their outdoor activities more closely and try to minimize your cat’s contact with birds, especially ones that appear sick or lethargic.
And if your cat develops a “cold,” don’t just hope for the best. First, keep it away from other cats and from your face, and then take it for a veterinary check up.
One final precaution is to get your flu vaccination every year. While this cannot protect completely against bird flu, it does offer some degree of resistance to any flu and likely will minimize your risks.
George Walter is environmental program manager at the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s natural resources department; he also has a 45+ year interest in bird watching. He may be reached at george@theJOLTnews.com
Photos for this column are provided by Liam Hutcheson, a 17-year-old Olympia area birder and avid photographer.
6 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
KarenMcIrish
We have a "catio" and have closed it. No more laying around outside on sunny days until this is figured out. I hear cats can die within 24 hours.
Thursday, December 26, 2024 Report this
JHermes
Beloved kitties can happily adapt to indoor life and non-raw food. There may be an adjustment period, but it only makes sense to take precautions.
Friday, December 27, 2024 Report this
johngreen
Cats happen to be one of the main reasons for the decline in birds, killing millions every year. Good advice to keep cats indoors for their health as well as the health of wildlife. We have a healthy population of coyotes in our area who love dining on outdoor cats..
Friday, December 27, 2024 Report this
rockyw98502
Thanks very much Mr. Walter for writing about and giving current information about the bird flu and the threat it represents.
Very timely and appreciated.
Betty Watson, JOLT reader
Friday, December 27, 2024 Report this
PegGerdes
Thank you for this valuable information. Appreciate it, and am forwarding it on.
Friday, December 27, 2024 Report this
DonnaS
Very interesting article about the bird flu. It was so tragic to hear the loss of so many wild cats at the Wild Felid Sanctuary in Shelton. They give their cats the best of care. It was interesting to learn about the study on hunting dogs - it is good to learn that they do not seem to get ill from exposure.
Saturday, December 28, 2024 Report this