Key Takeaways:
– An Oregon pet cat died after consuming pet food found to be infested with bird flu; this spurred a nationwide recall of the said cat food.
– The product, a raw frozen pet food by Northwest Naturals, tested positive for the virus. It was distributed across various states and in British Columbia, Canada.
– Consumers are urged to dispose of any bought products from the batch and seek a refund from the seller.
– Although no human cases have been connected to this incident, people who have interacted with the cat are under observation for any flu-like symptoms.
– This event follows a recently confirmed human case in Oregon, where the victim had connections to a commercial poultry outbreak.
The Threat Lurking in Pet Food
In a recent unsettling incident, an Oregon house cat lost its life after consuming pet food that tested positive for bird flu. The unfortunate event sparked off a recall of the implicated pet food that had a sales footprint reaching across the U.S., and as far as Canada’s British Columbia.
Deadly Dinner for Feline Friend
According to Dr. Ryan Scholz, State Veterinarian from the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the cat contracted the H5N1 virus by consuming raw and frozen pet food from the company Northwest Naturals. He emphasized that the cat was strictly an indoor pet, all but ruling out the possibility of it contracting the virus from its environment. Genome sequencing provided compelling evidence: the virus extracted from the pet food and that found in the infected cat were perfect matches.
Voluntary Product Recall by Northwest Naturals
Oregon-based pet food company, Northwest Naturals, responded responsibly, initiating a voluntary recall of one particular batch of its Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food which tested positive for the bird flu virus. This product had been circulated via distributors in several states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
The affected product comes in two-pound plastic bags and bears “best if used by” dates of May 21 and June 23, 2026. Both the firm and the Oregon authorities have advised consumers to promptly dispose of any products purchased from the recalled batch. They have the option to contact their place of purchase for a refund.
Public Health Attention Heightened
Although no human cases of bird flu have been directly tied to this incident, health authorities are monitoring those who had contact with the ill-fated cat for any flu symptoms. Bird flu, which has already infected over 60 individuals in eight states, mostly yields mild illnesses.
However, there have been cases of severe illnesses, the first known instance being a case in Louisiana where the person affected was hospitalized. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed one human case of bird flu in Oregon. Interestingly, this person had connections to an outbreak at a commercial poultry operation and recovered fully after a bout of mild illness.
This incident is the latest in a series of bird flu outbreaks that have plagued Oregon in recent months. In late October, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that a pig in an Oregon backyard farm had contracted the bird flu. It was the first detection of the virus in U.S. swine.
A Timely Reminder for Pet Owners and Industry
This cat’s death is a reminder for pet owners to be more discerning in their choice of pet food. For the pet food industry, it underscores the importance of maintaining stringent quality control measures in their production process. It remains to be seen how this incident will affect the pet food market both in the U.S. and internationally. Health authorities will undoubtedly continue their efforts to prevent further spread of the bird flu virus among the pet population, as well as to monitor for potential human infections.