Why Bird Flu in Cat Food is a Big Deal for Everyone

A cat in Oregon recently passed away due to bird flu after eating raw cat food. The food was found to have the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This is quite worrying as it's not just about our pets. Bird flu has been affecting animals and people this year. The Oregon Department of Agriculture announced the cat's death. This happened after a big cat outbreak at Washington's Wild Felid Advocacy Center. There, 20 big cats, like African servals and cougars, died from bird flu.The cat that died was kept indoors. It didn't come into contact with the virus elsewhere. Tests showed the virus in the raw cat food matched the one in the cat. The company, Northwest Naturals, has recalled some of its products. H5N1 has been making headlines. It’s been in birds, cows, and now cats. In the U. S. , over 60 human cases have been reported. Cats often get it from drinking raw milk. This time, it’s from raw food. Experts worry that if viruses keep jumping between animals, a deadly human strain could emerge. Raw pet food can also carry other harmful germs like Salmonella and Listeria. It's important to be cautious.