State agriculture departments in Washington and Oregon have issued an urgent warning about raw pet food after indoor cats in Oregon contracted highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or H5N1) earlier this month.
The infected cats were euthanized due to severe illness after consuming raw pet food manufactured by Wild Coast Raw.
Newsweek reached out the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and Wild Coast Raw via email on Sunday for comment.
The identification of H5N1 in commercial raw pet food marks a concerning development in avian influenza transmission, potentially affecting household pets and their owners.
The case has prompted a multi-state investigation and raises significant questions about safety protocols in the raw pet food industry.
Four cats in Oregon have been infected by avian influenza in the past two months, including two others in Washington County, according to a release by the WSDA.
Laboratory testing by the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories at the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed the presence of HPAI in the cats and their food.
The investigation began after officials discovered all infected cats had consumed the same brand of raw pet food before becoming ill.
Pet owners should watch for symptoms including fever, lethargy, low appetite, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from the eyes and nose, difficulty breathing, and neurological signs like tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindness.
The agencies advise immediate veterinary consultation if pets show these symptoms after consuming the affected products.
While human risk remains low, transmission can occur through contact with contaminated pet food or surfaces.
Health officials advise monitoring for symptoms including eye redness or irritation (conjunctivitis), cough, sore throat, sneezing, runny/stuffy nose, muscle/body aches, headaches, fatigue, fever, trouble breathing, diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting.
Owners should not feed their pets raw meat—especially poultry—or unpasteurized dairy products, veterinarians advised.
Cats should be kept indoors and away from potentially infected birds, livestock and wildlife, especially in areas with known bird flu outbreaks.
Owners should ensure that their felines' rabies vaccinations are up to date to avoid the risk of confusion between the two viral infections.
Finally, pet owners should avoid handling dead birds where possible—and if essential, wear personal protective equipment, including gloves and a mask, when doing so.
If coming into contact with livestock or poultry, owners should change their clothes and wash their hands thoroughly before interacting again with their cats.
Washington and Oregon Departments of Agriculture: "This public health notice was initiated in response to these findings and further testing conducted by WSDA on unopened containers of the raw pet food, manufactured by Wild Coast Raw."
State Health advisory: "While no human infections have been identified among those handling raw pet food products, people can become infected if the virus enters their eyes, nose or mouth — such as by handling contaminated pet food or touching contaminated surfaces, especially without thoroughly washing their hands afterward."
Health officials' warning: "Although the current human health risk is low, those exposed to H5N1 should monitor themselves for symptoms...and pet owners or handlers showing these signs should contact their healthcare providers."
Consumers are being directed to check lot numbers on Wild Coast, LLC products and visit the WSDA recalls and health alerts webpage for specific information.
Health officials will continue monitoring for potential infections while investigating the contaminated food products.