Raw pet food linked to bird flu outbreak in house cats

OLYMPIA — Health officials have identified raw pet food as the source of bird flu infections in house cats, according to a joint announcement from Washington and Oregon agriculture departments.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) issued a warning after indoor cats in Oregon contracted H5N1, also known as HPAI, in early February. The infected cats, which had consumed raw pet food from the same manufacturer, were euthanized due to the severity of their illness following consultation between owners and veterinarians.

Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of H5N1 in both the deceased cats and samples of raw pet food manufactured by Wild Coast Raw. The Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories conducted the initial testing, with additional confirmation from WSDA on unopened product containers.

State agriculture officials direct consumers to check lot numbers on Wild Coast, LLC products in their homes and visit the WSDA recalls and health alerts webpage for specific product information.

No human infections have been reported in connection with the contaminated pet food. The virus can enter through eyes, nose, or mouth when handling contaminated pet food or touching contaminated surfaces, particularly without thorough hand washing.

Signs of H5N1 infection in pets include fever, lethargy, low appetite, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from eyes and nose, difficulty breathing, and neurological symptoms including tremors, seizure, incoordination, or blindness. Officials advise immediate veterinary consultation for pets showing symptoms after consuming the product.

Health officials recommend monitoring for human symptoms including eye redness or irritation, cough, sore throat, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, muscle and body aches, headaches, fatigue, fever, breathing difficulties, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Exposed individuals displaying symptoms should contact healthcare providers.