Pet meals model points recall over chicken flu contamination

Northwest Naturals issued a voluntary recall for a batch of pet meals after a cat died of chicken flu in Oregon, officers mentioned. 

Testing completed by the U.S. Division of Agriculture’s Nationwide Veterinary Providers Laboratories and the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed an indoor cat in Oregon’s Washington County contracted chicken flu and died after consuming the pet meals. 

“We’re assured that this cat contracted H5N1 by consuming the Northwest Naturals uncooked and frozen pet meals,” Oregon Division of Agriculture State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz mentioned in a Tuesday launch. “This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not uncovered to the virus in its setting, and outcomes from the genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the uncooked pet meals and contaminated cat have been precise matches to one another.”

Can pets transmit chicken flu to homeowners? 

Oregon officers are monitoring family members who had contact with the cat to see in the event that they develop any flu signs, however no human instances of chicken flu have been recognized as of Tuesday and the chance of transmission to people stays low within the state.

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention mentioned that it is unlikely for a pet proprietor to get sick with chicken flu by direct contact with an contaminated pet, however it’s attainable. The well being company famous that in 2016, the unfold of chicken flu from a cat to an individual was reported in New York Metropolis. The contaminated particular person, a veterinarian, had gentle flu signs after extended publicity to sick cats with out utilizing private protecting gear.

Oregon’s Division of Agriculture mentioned the cat demise is a reminder that giving uncooked meat merchandise to pets can result in sickness.

What to do for those who purchased the pet meals

Northwest Naturals on Tuesday suggested pet homeowners to ditch 2-pound baggage of Feline Turkey Recipe uncooked frozen pet meals, marked with greatest if utilized by dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1. The product was offered in a dozen states and Canada. 

The pet meals was offered by distributors in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington. The meals was additionally offered in British Columbia in Canada.

Prospects can contact the place of buy for a full refund. 

Cats weak to chicken flu

Cats are significantly weak to chicken flu, in response to the Meals and Drug Administration. 

“Cats are significantly weak to this virus, which may trigger delicate preliminary signs however progress quickly, typically leading to demise inside 24 hours resulting from pneumonia-like situations,” the assertion mentioned, including the middle was underneath quarantine and can stay closed to the general public till additional discover.

Well being officers in California this 12 months launched an investigation after two cats died from suspected chicken flu after being given uncooked milk. And in Texas, cats at a farm died after consuming uncooked milk from chicken flu-infected cows.