20-year review of avian flu in cats reveals rising danger from latest strain

A College of Maryland assessment of scientific literature suggests home cats can contract the quickly evolving chicken flu H5N1, probably placing homeowners, veterinarians and others in danger if the virus continues to flow into unabated.

The study, accessible in preliminary kind on MedRxiv whereas awaiting peer assessment, examined the worldwide distribution and unfold of chicken flu infections in feline species between 2004 and 2024, discovering a drastic rise in stories beginning in 2023, with a spike in infections reported amongst home cats, versus wild or zoo-kept animals.

This improve coincides with the speedy unfold of the present pressure of H5N1 amongst mammals, says the examine’s first writer, Assistant Professor Kristen Coleman, an airborne infectious illness researcher within the Faculty of Public Well being and an affiliate professor within the Division of Veterinary Drugs.

Fowl flu hasn’t been reported to be contagious between people, and it’s not sure to evolve in that course, however the illness is clearly altering. The present pressure of H5N1 has been spreading to animals which have by no means been affected earlier than, and pets that may move it to individuals may play a job in the way it evolves.

Starting in Texas this April, dairy cattle in 12 states have contracted chicken flu, as have three individuals who labored with contaminated cows in Texas and Michigan. Together with the contaminated employees in Texas, two farm cats fed unpasteurized milk additionally caught the sickness.

The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, which supplies steering for veterinarians working with probably contaminated animals, mentioned the danger of contracting the illness from pets is low, however Coleman advised pet homeowners ought to take precautions to guard their cats and themselves.

“Do not feed your cat uncooked meat or uncooked dairy milk, and restrict their unsupervised time open air,” she mentioned. “Cats prey on wild birds that may very well be contaminated, they usually may get into uncooked dairy milk on a farm if it’s not securely saved.”

As well as, the virus has been reported in home mice, which cats additionally prey on, so it seems the alternatives for cross-species transmission are rising, and pet cats could also be at elevated threat.

Cat homeowners must also be waiting for respiratory and neurological signs, and contemplate taking them to the vet in the event that they appear to have hassle respiration or are performing unusually. The present H5N1 pressure has additionally reportedly triggered blindness in cats.

For the reason that emergence of H5N1 in U.S. dairy cattle, 21 home cats have been reported to be contaminated. Full genetic sequences of the viral strains infecting two of those cats have been reported within the scientific literature. Coleman mentioned sequencing and demographic information for the opposite cat instances are urgently wanted.

Avian influenza, or chicken flu, was as soon as a finicky illness, infecting largely migratory waterfowl and farmed poultry. However since 2020, the extremely infectious pressure referred to as H5N1 started spreading amongst a greater diversity of birds. It has not too long ago been showing in a rising variety of mammals, even decimating complete colonies of sea lions all through South America.

Though the illness is new amongst many animals, cats have been occasional victims of avian influenza for many years, most certainly as a result of they eat birds and are uncovered by sick or useless prey carrying the virus.

Coleman reported that the fatality charge for the present pressure of H5N1 in cats has been round 67%—in itself a great motive motive for pet homeowners to maintain their cats inside and away from wild birds. She additionally discovered different worrying indicators, together with a number of stories of cats contracting chicken flu from different cats.

As well as, each zookeepers and animal shelter employees have contracted chicken flu from cats of their care. Though not the present H5N1 pressure, these instances reveal cats as potential vectors for the illness in people.

Coleman advised that cats and different animals must be monitored for the illness not just for their sake, however for the safety of human well being as properly.

“The virus goes to sneak up in additional locations, identical to it did in dairy farms,” she mentioned. “We all know cats are being contaminated, so let’s get forward of it.”