The Los Angeles County Division of Well being at the moment introduced that it’s investigating two suspected avian flu sicknesses in indoor pet cats that drank recalled uncooked milk, fueling extra issues about wider unfold in different animals, which incorporates zoo animals contaminated in Arizona’s Maricopa County.
Additionally at the moment, the US Division of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed a number of extra outbreaks in dairy cattle in California and in poultry flocks in three states. And two states reported rises in wild-bird detections.
Cats die after consuming recalled uncooked milk
In an announcement, Los Angeles County well being officers mentioned the 2 cats developed signs after consuming milk from Uncooked Farms. Their signs included urge for food loss, fever, and neurologic indicators. Each died after their signs worsened.
Testing revealed influenza A, which is uncommon in cats. Officers mentioned the circumstances are thought-about suspected H5 avian flu circumstances and that affirmation exams shall be completed. Officers famous that, in earlier US dairy farm outbreaks, cats had been identified to be contaminated after consuming uncooked milk from contaminated cows.
Individuals uncovered to the sick cats are underneath monitoring and have been supplied antiviral prophylaxis (prevention).
When uncooked milk from Uncooked Farms was recalled following constructive exams from product on retail cabinets, officers urged folks to keep away from consuming uncooked milk or giving it to their pets.
We strongly encourage residents and their pets to keep away from uncooked dairy and undercooked meat merchandise.
Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, LA County public well being director, mentioned, the circumstances are a reminder that the virus may cause extreme illness in cats. “To keep away from the unfold of illness, together with H5 chook flu, we strongly encourage residents and their pets to keep away from uncooked dairy and undercooked meat merchandise, restrict contact with sick or lifeless animals, report sick or lifeless birds and maintain pets or poultry away from wild animals and birds.”
Cheetah, mountain lion amongst zoo animal deaths
Maricopa County yesterday introduced that it’s working with state and federal companions to reply to an avian flu outbreak affecting a small variety of animals on the Wildlife World Zoo close to Phoenix.
Checks on the Arizona Division of Agriculture confirmed that samples had been seemingly constructive for H5N1. Public well being officers are working to determine employees and volunteers who seemingly had extended publicity to the animals. The folks shall be monitored and supplied antiviral prophylaxis.
The zoo has remoted contaminated or probably contaminated animals and stepped up its biosafety protocols.
Media stories mentioned animal deaths embody a cheetah, a mountain lion, swamp hen, an Indian goose, and a kookaburra. An contaminated white tiger seems to be bettering after therapy.
Kristy Hayden, president of the zoo, mentioned, “Whereas we’re deeply saddened to report the loss of some cherished animals, we’re grateful that the impression was restricted due to our swift response, sturdy biosecurity protocols, and the invaluable assist of Maricopa County Division of Public Well being and state and federal companies.”
Arizona not too long ago reported two avian flu outbreaks in poultry, one at a business farm in Pinal County and the opposite in a yard flock in Maricopa County.
Extra detections in cows, poultry, wild birds
In different animal developments, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Well being Inspection Service (APHIS) at the moment confirmed 58 extra detections dairy cattle, all in California, elevating the state’s complete to 617 and the nationwide complete to 832 throughout 16 states. The outbreaks in California, the nation’s top-producing dairy state, have now affected almost half of the state’s roughly 1,300 dairy farms.
Additionally, APHIS confirmed extra outbreaks in poultry in three states, together with at two business farms in Iowa, one a turkey producer in Palo Alto County that has 50,000 birds, and the opposite a layer farm in Sioux County that has 1.6 million birds.
The group additionally confirmed the virus at business farm in Oklahoma’s Adair County that has 40,000 birds and at a turkey facility in South Dakota’s Brule County.
In the meantime, two states—Louisiana and Missouri—warned about rising numbers of avian flu in wild birds.
The Louisiana Division of Wildlife and Fisheries mentioned the autumn migration has precipitated a resurgence in avian flu sicknesses in waterfowl. It urged the general public to keep away from exposing pets to wild birds and to keep away from dealing with sick or lifeless birds.
The Missouri Division of Conservation mentioned it’s monitoring stories of sick and lifeless waterfowl throughout the state, noting that neighboring states Iowa and Kansas are seeing comparable patterns. It additionally warned the general public to keep away from publicity to sick and lifeless birds, together with protecting pets away from them.
