By Jamie Martin
In a concerning development, Belgian authorities reported the first cases of H5 avian flu in domestic cats, with similar cases also emerging in the United States.
Two outdoor cats on a poultry farm in East Flanders tested positive for the virus and were euthanized after developing severe symptoms. Health officials suspect the cats contracted the virus from contaminated eggs or water.
Belgium has previously documented avian flu cases in foxes, polecats, and domestic ferrets, but this is the first confirmed infection in domestic cats. The remaining cats on the farm are healthy and symptom-free.
In the United States, New Jersey health officials have identified four more cases of H5 avian flu in domestic cats from the same household as two previous infections. The infected cats were either indoor-outdoor or feral. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
“Health department staff are conducting daily symptom monitoring with all individuals who had close contact with the affected animals, and all are asymptomatic at this time,” said Karen DeMarco, MPH, Hunterdon County health officer.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed new H5N1 cases in commercial poultry farms in Indiana, Ohio, and New York. Backyard poultry flocks in Oregon, Illinois, and Michigan have also been affected.
Since 2022, avian flu has led to the loss of over 166 million birds across the U.S. In addition, five more H5N1 infections were confirmed in dairy cattle in California, raising the state’s total to 754 and the national total to 983.
This ongoing situation underscores the necessity for strict biosecurity measures to manage and contain the spread of H5N1, protecting both animal and human health from this adaptable virus.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National