Reports from California health officials or agricultural departments

California Man's Cats Die After Drinking Raw Milk Recalled for H5N1 Bird Flu by Raw Farm

Jan 12, 2025, 03:48 PM

A California man, Joseph Journell, reported that two of his cats died and a third was hospitalized after consuming raw milk recalled for bird flu risk. The cats, kept indoors and fed conventional pet food, drank unpasteurized milk from lots recalled by Raw Farm in Fresno, California. The milk was pulled from store shelves in December after health officials detected the H5N1 bird flu virus. Journell's cats, Alexander, a 14-year-old tabby, and Tuxsie, a 4-year-old tuxedo cat, died in late November, while Big Boy, another 4-year-old cat, was hospitalized and later tested positive for H5N1. Journell himself had been consuming the same milk, believing it offered health benefits, but has since stopped. He is seeking compensation from Raw Farm for over $12,000 spent on treating his cats. The incident follows a widespread outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows across the U.S., with California being particularly affected. Health officials have warned against consuming raw milk and feeding it to pets due to the risk of bird flu and other infections.