New Mexico, USA – The United States is facing a concerning outbreak of H5N1 bird flu, with four more cats testing positive for the virus in connection with infected dairy cows. This brings the total number of cat cases in this outbreak to seven, according to state and federal officials.
The Associate Director of Preparedness and Response at CDC’s Influenza Division, Sonja Olsen, reported three new cases in cats on Thursday, with a fourth case confirmed on Friday. The cats exhibited neurologic symptoms, rapid decline, and ultimately succumbed to the illness.
These new cases were identified at dairy farms in Curry County, New Mexico, and Wood County, Ohio. Unfortunately, all three cats in New Mexico and the one in Ohio died. Additionally, three other cats recently passed away at dairy farms in Texas, adding to the growing concern.
The global spread of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, along with its recent transmission to a growing number of mammals, has raised alarm about the potential for a future variant that could facilitate human-to-human transmission. Although only a few human cases have been reported thus far, primarily after contact with infected birds or cattle, the situation remains under close watch.
In late March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the detection of bird flu in unpasteurized milk from sick cows in Kansas and Texas, marking the first-ever identification of the virus in cattle. Subsequently, 34 outbreaks have been reported in nine states, with a farm worker in Texas also testing positive for the virus.
Furthermore, officials confirmed the presence of viral fragments of H5N1 bird flu in samples of commercial milk earlier this week. Despite these findings, experts reassure the public that pasteurization renders the milk safe to consume. Ongoing testing is being conducted to validate these initial results.
The World Health Organization emphasized the importance of real-time monitoring and information sharing to effectively manage the evolving risk presented by avian influenza. Cats have proven to be vulnerable to this new strain of H5N1 bird flu, with previous cases reported in different parts of the world, including France, South Korea, and Poland. In the United States alone, at least 20 cats have been infected with H5N1 bird flu, with 13 cases reported last year in connection with infected poultry or wild birds.