People can spread bird flu to their cats, suggests us studying

A study published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday suggests that people can transfer bird flu to their domestic cats, with fatal consequences.

Two household case studies from Michigan were in May 2024 published In the desk Morbidity and mortality weekly reportAs the fears grow that the virus could mutate and cause a human pandemic.

Since then it has also emerged that cats can be infected by food with pets that are infected with the virus – and it can spread between “large cat” species in hiding places.

Both case studies concerned owners of companion animals that worked at or near dairy farms affected by bird flu, and both resulted in the death of infected cats.

In the first case, a five -year -old female female cat quickly developed a loss of appetite, poor care habits, disorientation, lethargy and neurological decline.

Her condition deteriorated quickly and required emergency care at Michigan State University (MSU) Veterinary Medical Center.

Despite intervention, her symptoms progressed and she was euthanized within four days. Postmortem tests confirmed that she had contracted bird flu.

Two other cats lived in the same household. One showed mild symptoms that the owners attributed to allergies, and they stopped communication with public health officials.

Among the members of the household, the agricultural worker refused to test, while an adult and two adolescents tested negative on bird flu.

Unpasteurized milk connection

Days later, a second case with a six -month -old male Maine Coon was taken to university. The cat displayed symptoms such as anorexia, lethargy, facial swelling and limited movement, and died within 24 hours.

This cat lived with another cat that remained unaffected.

The owner of the Maine Coon regularly transported unpasteurized milk from various farms in Michigan, including those who are infected.

The owner reported raw milk to handle without protective equipment, often splashes in the face, eyes and clothing and not changing work clothes before he entered the house.

In particular, the sick cat often rolled into the infected work clothes of the owner, while the non -tasted cat did not.

The owner also experienced eye irritation before the cat fell ill, but refused testing for bird flu.

“Feed workers are encouraged to consider removing clothing and footwear and to rinse a by -producersidu (including milk and stool) before they enter households,” the CDC researchers advised.

Since the US outbreak began in 2024, 69 human cases of bird flu have been officially reported in the US, although the actual number can be considerably higher due to limited tests among farm workers. One person died.

Experts warn that as the virus continues to circulate on a large scale between mammals and birds, it can ultimately mix with seasonal flu, possibly mute in a trunk that is able to be able to be an efficient person at human being.

Newly confirmed American health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Has said that he wants the government to leave investigations of infectious diseases and doubts whether germs actually cause illness.

He has also questioned the use of vaccines for decades – seen as a key to containing bird flu when it becomes a pandemic – and has promoted the consumption of raw milk, a well -known vector for bird flu.

© 2025 AFP