How to protect your pets from bird flu

A subtype of avian influenza, known as H5N1, continues to spread among Wildlifedairy cows, domestic birds and some pets a string of global outbreaks This began in 2020. The extremely pathogenic virus was first detected in US wild birds in 2022 and has since led to more than more than 166 million poultry and almost infected 1,000 herds of cattle. This stem has infected and Hundreds of other mammals At national level, according to data from US centers for disease control and prevention.

Of 2022, there were 70 confirmed human cases in the US, mostly among agricultural workers. A person died in Louisiana after an infection resulting from Exposure by a flock of chicken in the yard. There are no documented cases of human-human spread, and CDC is currently considering the risk for the general public will be low.

However, the virus has aroused fear and uncertainty – most recently among pet owners and veterinary doctors as a house kitten go out among the victims of the outbreak.

“We hear concerns from our doctors. People ask and people are worried ”, Sandra Faehveterinarian and president of US Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)say Popular science.

How to understand the risks to pets

Of March 6, more than 100 domestic cats have been infected since 2022. Wild cats such as Lynx and captive tigers have become ill. Given that tens of millions of pets and Vagabore cats in the US, confirmed cases remain extremely rare. “As in humans, the risk of contracting H5N1 pets is relatively low” outside the farm settings, says Peter HalfmannVirologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Veterinary Medicine School.

However, H5N1 it is A severe and often deadly virus for felines. “The circulating stem currently has a fatality rate of nearly 90 percent in internal cats.” Kristen Colemansays an infectious disease researcher at Maryland University Popular science. This is based on Coleman own research by influenza infections among cats, which has not yet been reviewed on a peer.

Symptoms for cats vary but Often includes Losing appetite, fever and lethargy. Cold-like symptoms, such as flowing nose and the eye of the eye, may also occur. The neurological signs are also common, and a cat infected with the influenza may seem disoriented, experience trembling or repeatedly in the circle. “If there is something stopped, call your veterinarian,” Faeh asks.

Dogs and other pets Maybe Also become sick with H5N1. Although there have been no reported cases among domestic dogs in the US during this outbreak, a pet dog Fatally fell In Canada in 2023, after chewing on an infected goose housing. Pet birds are theoretically sensitive to virus, as are wild birds. Rodents such as mice and rats have tested positively. Wild rabbits can also be infected and therefore is likely to have many small pets to be technically exposed.

However, apart from the poultry and cattle, pets have been shown to be the most vulnerable domestic animals. The reason is probably the result of both behavior and biology.

Why are cats so vulnerable?

First of all, H5N1 can be more adept at infiltration and replication in feline cells than other mammals, Coleman explains. “There could be something unique about their different anatomy and physiology and we don’t know exactly what this is.”

The avian influenza is evolved primarily for birds and is particularly widespread and virulent among birds and water birds. Its ability to infect mammals depends, in part, on the presence or absence of a certain type of cellular receiver that the birds have. The presentation of the disease and severity can be changed according to the tissues containing that receiver. Cows, for example, have high concentrations of avian cell receptors in their udders, though not their lungs. This is probably the reason why the virus managed to spread through milking equipment, why cows did not show typical respiratory symptoms and why cows have shed so much virus in their milk.

kitten transports receptors for both Avian and human influenza viruses in their airways, Coleman notes. This means that cats could be infected with both birds and human influenza at the same time, serving as a Petri plate for a dangerous viral mixture. It is the same reason why epidemiologists are often particularly concerned about pigs, because pigs share the same feature. Dogs have them too Receptors for H5N1 in their respiratory tract. However, receptors do not tell the whole story and there are other molecular factors in the game, such as replication rates inside the cells. Genetics or immune response differences can play a role in the particular sensitivity of CATS, says Halfmann.

Cats also face an increased risk because of their lifestyle. Compared to dogs, pets are more commonly allowed, with little supervision, and cats are prone to hunting and treatment.

How are pet cats exposed?

In the previous foci of bird flu, there have been several documented cases of spreading feline-fline, but the ingestion seems to be the main exposure path to the pets in the current outbreak, says Coleman. If an outdoor cat catches an infected bird or rodents, it can get sick.

Exposure to raw milk Or infected, infected meat is also a major risk factor. On farms, cats can have inadvertent access to unpasteurized milk, which leads to feline diseases. Outside the farms, some pet owners opt to feed their raw dairy and meat products. Avma Never recommend Raw diets for dogs or cats due to the risk of several pathogens. The spread of H5N1 makes this practice increasingly risky, says Faeh.

Earlier this month, the Pet Food Company Wild Coast LLC expanded a previous recall of a raw food for cats. The recall was initially issued In February, after several pets in Oregon were seriously ill and were finally euthanized. The tests confirmed that a raw wild coast container with chicken -free chicken formula in the household was positive for bird flu. Since then, the company has widened the recall net to include more products. At least two other raw pet foods from two different companies (Gross pet monarch and Northwest Naturals) have been related to cat deaths in the last 15 months.

Contact with dead animals even without ingestion, feces from infected animals or contaminated surfaces (called “fomite”) can also be sources of infection, says Faeh. One recently CDC report They documented two cases of completely interior cats to become infected in the households of dairy workers, where people themselves did not report symptomatic diseases. Cats may be exposed by footwear or clothes. Fortunately, however, all the above factors are under the control of pet owners. “There are things we can do to help mitigate the risk,” says Faeh.

How to keep your pets safe

First of all, Coleman says to reconsider the feeding of raw cat milk or dog or raw meat: “My suggestion would be to eliminate them from a raw diet for now.” If pets test requirements are implemented, then raw foods can become safer in the future, she adds.

Secondly, limit the cat’s outdoor time. If there are outbreaks known in your area among wild or firm animals, keeping your cat inside (or at least their supervision while it’s out) is the best bet to minimize the risk of infection, says faeh. “If you have a cat that used to go outside, it will be a bit of challenge. Try to go on the leash, some cats tolerate very well. If you can’t do this, stimulate the environment inside, ”she suggests.

As the bird flu has been detected in mice and rats, it is a very good moment to work on controlling and preventing rodents into your home.

If you have poultry, the establishment of biosecurity measures can help prevent diseases in both your birds and other animals. The herd owners should try to maintain the area of ​​covered poultry, to reduce the risk that the passage of wild birds will stop or stop in the area. Also, bird keeper should minimize the amount of other human and animal traffic on which their birds are exposed, says Faeh.

Those with chickens in the yard or birds of water should change their clothes and footwear after working in COOP or Bird Run to avoid bringing potential pathogens to the house, says Halfmann. “You have a separate pair of clothes that you pass.” It also recommends wearing a mask when making more dirty loads, such as eliminating old sheet material. Thickening hand washing or using a 70 percent hands hygiene gel after any animal exposure is always a good idea, he adds.

If you see a sick or dead bird – 1st or domestic – contact the Local Natural Resource Department or USDA agentand follows Official orientations regarding the proper reporting and elimination. Finally, protecting the pets from the influenza of the birds protects you. In a pastry past with a close -tied aviar influenza virus, At least one human infection was followed by a sick cat. In the current outbreak, a cat Maybe the virus has passed on a teenager in the same household. The less likely it is for the virus to infect new hosts and intertwine between species, the better for all of us – human and animals alike.

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