On Thursday, authorities on the West Coast of the United States issued an alert to pet owners due to a recall of a raw pet food product that was found to be contaminated with the H5N1 avian flu virus. This recall has led to growing concern about possible transmission of the virus, following the death of an infected domestic cat.
Pet Food Contamination: Product Recalled in Several States
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) reported that Northwest Naturals brand turkey recipe containing the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus was sold in at least twelve U.S. states, as well as in the Canadian province of British Columbia.
State veterinarian Ryan Scholz explained that the cat that died contracted the virus from consuming this product, as the animal had no exposure to the virus outside of its home. Tests confirmed that the virus in the food was an exact match to that found in the cat.
Authorities have urged pet owners to immediately dispose of the affected product.
Risk of Contagion and Monitoring Measures
Although the risk of transmission of the virus to humans remains low in Oregon, local authorities are closely monitoring family members who had contact with the infected cat for possible symptoms. So far, no human cases linked to this incident have been reported.
However, animal infections continue to be a problem. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency due to the spread of the virus in livestock, with several confirmed cases in workers and one child affected. In total, 61 people have contracted the virus in the U.S., mostly employees of poultry or livestock farms.
Spread in Felines and Dairy Cattle
In Washington State, 20 felines were reported to have died from avian influenza at an animal sanctuary. In addition, infections in dairy cattle herds in states such as Idaho and Nevada have led to an increase in cases throughout the region, raising growing concerns about the spread of the virus in various species.
Authorities are closely monitoring this outbreak to prevent further spread and protect both animals and humans.
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