Cat Food Recalled in 12 States After Bird Flu Death; Human H5N1 Mutation Detected in Louisiana Patient

Dec 28, 2024, 12:50 AM

A voluntary recall has been issued for a batch of raw frozen cat food distributed to 12 U.S. states, including Colorado, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Oregon, after a cat died from consuming the product that tested positive for bird flu (H5N1). The death of the Oregon house cat and the recall have raised concerns about the ongoing outbreak of bird flu and how it may affect pets. Meanwhile, genetic sequences of H5N1 viruses collected from a person in Louisiana who became severely ill show signs of mutations thought to affect the virus's ability to attach to human upper airway cells, suggesting potential adaptation of the virus to humans. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed a total of 66 human cases of bird flu across the country as of Friday, although the actual number may be higher. Additionally, bird flu has been detected in non-commercial backyard flocks and commercial poultry farms in several states, including Vermont, Missouri, Illinois, and California, where 685 dairy herds have been infected, contributing to a national total of 901 herds in 16 states. The CDC is monitoring the situation closely, though the risk to the public remains low at this time.