The Rising Threat of Bird Flu: Lessons from the Pet Food Supply
Raw Pet Food Recalls: A Growing Concern
The bird flu outbreak in the US continues to gain momentum, and the latest developments are particularly alarming. A second company selling raw pet food has issued a voluntary recall after cats in two separate Oregon households contracted H5N1 from the contaminated meat. This recall follows earlier reports of cats in Washington state developing the same virus from the same brand of raw pet food, even after a voluntary recall. These cases highlight the need for immediate and comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of our pets and ourselves.
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| Location | Number of Cats Affected | Outcome | Date of Recall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 2 households | Multiple affected cats, 2 euthanized, 1 critically ill | Early this month |
| Washington | 2 households | 1 euthanized, 1 under veterinary care | Nearly two weeks after the Oregon recall |
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Since her outbreak in 2022, bird flu has been a growing concern, with nearly 100 domestic cats in the US testing positive for the virus. This alarming trend underscores the potential for cross-species transmission and the risks to both pets and humans.
#### Case Study: The Devastating Impact on a Cat Owner
Christine “Kiki” Knopp, an artist and cat breeder in Portland, Oregon, first noticed that one of her 11 cats was running a slight fever on February 6. Within days, the situation escalated dramatically. Two of her beloved cats had to be euthanized, and a third ended up in an intensive care unit. The catastrophe occurred because all of her felines, except for one male cat fed canned food, had been eating raw pet food from the now-recalled brand, Wild Coast Raw.
Knopp’s story is an eye-opener and a reminder that what you think you can trust may not be trustworthy in scenarios like this. The fact that the food she was feeding her cats was supposedly tested for H5N1 by Wild Coast and yet this outbreak occurred should serve as a lesson. Knopp now advocates for switching to canned food and recommends that all cat owners avoid feeding their pets raw poultry or chicken, table scraps, and any raw food that can potentially harbor the virus.
Wild Coast Raw, the company behind the recalled product, did not respond to inquiries about why they waited a week to issue their voluntary recall or if they were reaching out to vendors and customers regarding the recall. This has added fuel to the fire, raising more questions than answers.
### Pro Tip: Know the Risks Associated with Raw Pet Food
While raw pet food has gained popularity in recent years, it carries significant risks, particularly during a bird flu outbreak.
Pro tip: Keep an eye on your pets, especially if they show symptoms like rapid breathing, fever, or eyelid swelling. These may not seem related until they escalate, but being vigilant can prevent complications.
#### Symptoms and Disparity Between Threat Perception and Reality
The unnerving part of Knopp’s experience was recognizing something was wrong with her cats, but nothing seemed as obvious as congestion or coughing, which would typically indicate a respiratory infection. Even when they did show symptoms like fevers, eyelid swelling, and difficulty walking, Knopp and her veterinarians were still only alerted to the possibility of bird flu when X-rays revealed severe pneumonia. This underscores the importance of staying vigilant, needing immediate veterinary attention even for cats not traditionally recognized as demonstrating pain.
Dogs have been known to contract the virus through hunting or playing with birds—another issue as avian flu-related issues may shed light on this medical risk.
### Risk of Transmission to Humans: Lessons from the Past
While the primary focus is on the health of our pets, the potential risk to humans cannot be overlooked as seen from an unfortunate incident in 2016. Cats in a New York City shelter transmitted a related strain of bird flu, H7N2, to at least one person. This serves as a reminder that cats can transmit bird flu directly to humans, though the magnitude of this risk remains uncertain and is currently being looked into.
## Table: **Shed Light On the Count & Spread of Affected Cat**