
(5MinNewsBreak.com) – The Biden administration’s last mishandling of the bird flu crisis has now put beloved pets at risk as cats across the country are dying after consuming H5N1-infected raw pet food.
A wave of cat deaths linked to H5N1 bird flu has swept across multiple states, prompting new rules on pet food production in the U.S.
Cats in Los Angeles County, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado have fallen victim to this deadly virus after consuming contaminated raw pet food and raw milk.
The situation has become so dire that even captive wild cats are not safe, with 20 big cats in Washington dying after eating tainted raw food.
The raw pet food industry, largely unregulated thanks to years of government negligence, is now at the center of this crisis.
With few rules on sourcing raw meat, it is no wonder Americans’ pets are exposed to such dangerous pathogens.
The FDA’s reactive approach, only investigating companies after animals become sick, is too late for the cats that have already succumbed to this deadly virus.
The sick or dead cats include domestic, exotic and sanctuary cats. The FDA is investigating.. https://t.co/ue5YHTJvSO
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 22, 2025
The USDA and FDA have finally announced policy changes, focusing on pre-slaughter rules for poultry farms and food safety assessments for raw pet food producers.
Yet, these measures are a case of too little, too late. The damage has already been done, and American pet owners are left to wonder why the government took so many cat deaths to take action.
John Korslund, a retired U.S. Department of Agriculture veterinarian epidemiologist, stated:
“With multiple diagnosed cases of H5N1 mortalities, can we in good conscience fail to provide widespread public warnings that raw meat… has been linked to multiple big cat mortalities.”
The incompetence does not stop there. The virus was initially discovered in dairy cattle, and barn cats died at multiple dairies.
As if the threat to cats was not enough, this outbreak has also devastated America’s poultry industry.
Over 20 million hens have died, and a staggering 134 million birds have been affected since the outbreak began.
Dr. Ryan Scholz from Oregon’s Department of Agriculture confirmed the direct link between H5N1 cases in cats and contaminated Northwest Naturals pet food.
Genome sequencing showed the virus in an affected cat matched exactly with the virus in their pet food, making a compelling case for scrutiny.
Northwest Naturals has since recalled the contaminated batch, acknowledging the severity of the situation.
While scrutiny of pet food manufacturers grows, many criticize the lack of regulation in the raw pet food industry.
The FDA also stressed the importance of reanalyzing food safety systems in the raw pet food industry and demanded measures against H5N1 contamination.
With veterinarians reporting symptoms such as respiratory distress and neurological issues, the risks remain high.
Since human infections are rare but possible, proper hygiene and protective measures are advised to curb them.
Moreover, veterinarians and health officials warn pet owners to cook all meat thoroughly, opt for pasteurized dairy products, and avoid raw feed.
As the outbreak began in March 2024, it remains uncertain if these changes will fully prevent transmission in the future.
With winter migrations possibly increasing outbreaks, proactive steps are essential to protect the health of felines everywhere.
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