Public health announcements and industry reports

Joseph Journell's Cats Die from H5N1 After Consuming Raw Milk from Raw Farm in Fresno

Jan 12, 2025, 07:00 PM

Joseph Journell, a 56-year-old man from San Bernardino, California, reported that two of his cats died after consuming raw milk recalled due to bird flu contamination. The cats, a 14-year-old tabby named Alexander and a 4-year-old tuxedo cat named Tuxsie, died in late November. A third cat, Big Boy, aged 4, was hospitalized for a week and confirmed to be infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus. The milk in question was from Raw Farm in Fresno, which had been recalled in December after health officials detected the virus in the product. Journell, who had been consuming the same milk for its supposed health benefits, also fell ill and sought medical attention at Kaiser Permanente, though he was not tested for bird flu due to a lack of available tests. The incident has led to a demand for compensation from Raw Farm, with Journell's legal representative, Ilana Korchia, seeking over $12,000 for the treatment costs. Health officials have warned against the consumption of raw milk and feeding it to pets due to the risk of bird flu and other pathogens.