Bird Flu Found in Pet Food, Officials Warn Public

Bird Flu Found in Pet Food, Officials Warn Public
Bird Flu Found in Pet Food, Officials Warn Public

United States: One brand had samples of bird flu virus detected, and Los Angeles County health officials warned against feeding pets raw food.

It followed a day after officials reported the first human case of bird flu to affect the area, just days after the declaration of a statewide emergency related to the virus, as reported by Yahoo.

Bird Flu Found in Pet Food

Officials said samples of the virus were found in the products of Northwest Naturals Brand 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe Raw & Frozen Pet Food, which was being voluntarily recalled because a house cat in Oregon died after eating the recalled raw and frozen pet food.

Health officials warned that raw dairy, meat, and poultry products can carry germs, such as bird flu. The products should not be given to pets and should not be consumed raw, they added.

Several cats were infected and died after eating recalled raw milk, which LA County health officials had previously warned against feeding cats raw milk.

In a statement Monday, the county’s Department of Public Health confirmed the human case of H5 bird flu in an adult who worked on a property affected by the virus, and was exposed to livestock infected with the virus.

The adult, who was not named by the agency, had mild symptoms and was treated with antivirals, and was recovering at home, the agency said.

“The overall risk of H5 bird flu to the public remains low,” health officials said.

Statewide Bird Flu Emergency

As of the CDC, there are at least 65 human cases nationally with 36 of them in California alone.

On 18 December 2021, passage of the bird flu was declared by the Gov of California, Gavin Newsom following the confirmation of the virus in dairy cows in Southern California farms. Earlier, the virus was identified in the state’s Central Valley.

“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak,” Newsom said in a statement last week.

Some of the signs of the Bird flu, especially in men, include redness of the eyes or discharge, fever, coughing or breathing difficulties, throat irritation, muscular or body pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Contact with sick animals such as cows, poultry or even wildlife puts individuals at risk of infection with the virus.

Seasonal Flu Vaccination Recommended

“People rarely get bird flu, but those who interact​ with infected livestock or wildlife ​have a greater risk of infection. This case reminds us to take basic precautions to prevent exposure,” LA County health officer Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, said in the statement Monday.

“People should avoid unprotected contact with sick or dead animals, including cows, poultry, and wild birds; avoid consuming raw or undercooked animal products, such as raw milk; and protect pets and backyard poultry from exposure to wild animals,” Davis added, as reported by Yahoo.

In addition, the health official advised receiving the seasonal flu vaccination, “which can help prevent severe seasonal flu illness and lower the risk of getting both seasonal and bird flu infections at the same time if exposed.”