FDA releases guidance to prevent avian influenza risk in cats

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The FDA recently released a document providing guidance on how to minimize the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in cats and highlighting recent research on HPAI infection in cats. According to the FDA report, felines (both domestic and wild species such as tigers, pumas, and lynx) are particularly vulnerable to HPAI H5N1, so precautions should be taken to prevent exposure to the virus. It is necessary to take measures.¹

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the clinical signs of HPAI infection are better understood in cats than in dogs.² Nevertheless, dogs and cats exhibiting any of the following symptoms should seek veterinary treatment promptly.^{1, 2}:

• heat
• lethargy
• loss of appetite
• Eyes become red or inflamed
• discharge from the eyes and nose
• difficulty breathing
• Neurological signs such as tremors, seizures, loss of coordination, and blindness

To prevent the risk of HPAI infection in cats and dogs, the AVMA recommends keeping cats indoors. Keep outdoor pets away from wild birds, poultry, and cattle, including their environments. Prevent pets from eating dead birds or other animals. Be careful not to feed your pet raw meat, poultry, or unpasteurized milk.²

According to FDA documents, HPAI can be transmitted to cats through food, with the most common routes of infection being raw or undercooked meat and unpasteurized milk, but some research shows. “Cats should not be given products from affected farms that have not been thoroughly cooked or pasteurized to kill the virus. Cats should also not hunt or eat wild birds,” the FDA said. I'm writing.¹

A study of HPAI A (H5N1) infections in U.S. dairy cows and felines published in July 2024 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that domestic cats fed raw colostrum and milk from infected cows It is detailed that he developed a deadly system influenza. infection. These cats also showed neurological signs before death. Affected cows, on the other hand, showed non-specific signs of disease, including decreased feed intake and rumination, and a sudden decrease in milk production.^1,3

In Seoul, South Korea, investigators reported multiple HPAI cases in 2023 at two cat shelters starting in July of the same year, where cats were found to be made from “improperly sterilized” domestic duck meat. Felines were fed raw food.^1,4 A post-mortem examination of the cat showed “systemic pathological lesions,” according to the study. In addition, the virus was also detected in various tissues.⁴

According to the FDA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a testing program to detect HPAI in wild mammals, including both wild and domestic cats.¹ These latest HPAI detections can be found on the usda.gov website.

References

1. The FDA has outlined ways to reduce the risk of HPAI in cats. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. December 13, 2024. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-outlines-ways-reduce-risk-hpai-cats?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
2. Avian influenza in pets and backyard flocks. American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/avian-influenza/avian-influenza-companion-animals
3. Burrough ER, Magstadt DR, Petersen B, et al. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b Viral Infections in Domestic Dairy Cattle and Cats, United States, 2024. emerging infectious diseases. 2024;30(7):1335-1343. doi:10.3201/eid3007.240508.
4. Kang Y, Heo G, An S et al. Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection in cats, South Korea, 2023. Emerging infectious diseases. 2024;30(12):2510-2520. doi:10.3201/eid3012.240154.

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