Rising Concern: H5N1 Bird Flu Claims Lives of More Cats in the U.S.

 

 

The H5N1 bird flu continues to impact the United States, with four more cats recently succumbing to the virus. Notably, two of these cases involved household pets in South Dakota that had no known exposure to poultry or dairy cows, as reported by state and federal officials. This brings the total number of feline deaths due to bird flu in the U.S. to at least 14.

H5N1 Bird Flu in Domestic Cats

Among the newly reported incidents, two domestic cats perished on a property in Campbell County, South Dakota. According to Beth Thompson, the state’s veterinarian, there was no livestock present on the property. “No other details regarding how the cats were infected are known at this time,” Thompson stated.

Additionally, Michigan reported two more cases: one in Isabella County and another in Ionia County. Both involved barn cats residing on commercial dairy farms where cows had also contracted H5N1.

Expanded Impact on Wildlife

In a concerning development, two Virginia opossums were also found infected with the bird flu virus at the Ionia County property. “Cats are particularly susceptible to H5N1 2.3.4.4b viruses, and the majority of sick cats have been reported at or near affected poultry facilities or dairies,” noted Shilo Weir, spokesperson for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Increasing Feline Fatalities

Since late March, when H5N1 was first confirmed in dairy cows, at least 14 cats in the U.S. have died from the virus. The actual number of infected cats is believed to be higher due to limited testing capabilities.

Earlier this month, a domestic cat in Montana exhibited “neurologic signs” of H5N1 infection, alongside the discovery of a deceased skunk on the property, though it remains unclear if the skunk was also infected.

Global Spread and Human Health Concerns

The global spread of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, and its transmission to a growing number of mammals, has raised concerns about the potential for human-to-human transmission. To date, only a few human cases have been reported, primarily linked to direct contact with infected birds or cattle.

In late March, the USDA confirmed bird flu in dairy cows in Kansas and Texas, marking the first-ever cases in cattle. Since then, the number of outbreaks at dairy farms has increased to 51 across nine states, with one farm worker in Texas also testing positive.

Enhanced Surveillance and Funding

The CDC has urged state health departments to maintain enhanced influenza surveillance throughout the summer to detect potential bird flu cases in the community. More samples will be submitted for subtyping to distinguish between seasonal flu and H5N1. “CDC is committed to supporting state and local public health officials and will continue to provide information to support their H5N1 influenza response efforts,” the agency said in a statement.

The U.S. government has allocated nearly $200 million to combat the spread of H5N1 bird flu in dairy cows, including support for dairy farms, testing, vaccine development, surveillance, and measures to ensure the safety of commercial milk.

International Cases and Cat Vulnerability

Cats have shown significant vulnerability to this new strain of H5N1 bird flu. The first case involving a cat with this variant was reported near a duck farm in southern France in December 2022, where the infected cat was euthanized.

In 2023, South Korea experienced a tragic event where nearly 40 cats died at two animal shelters after consuming contaminated cat food. Similarly, an outbreak in Poland resulted in the deaths of over a dozen cats, likely due to contaminated raw meat.

In the United States, at least 27 cats have now been infected with H5N1 bird flu, including the 14 cases reported in recent weeks. The remaining 13 cases from last year were linked to infected poultry or wild birds.