Cats can get Bird Flu, too

A bird flu outbreak has been affecting American farms for the past few years and it’s now reportedly spreading to domestic pets around the country. Since the start of the bird flu outbreak, H5N1 bird flu has taken out more than 100 million birds and nearly 200 dairy farm herds. But recent reports say the influenza strain seen in dairy cows has now spread to some indoor pet cats. The New York Times reports that since the dairy outbreak was first detected in late March, at least 21 cats have caught the virus in nine states as the United States Department of Agriculture just recently begun to track feline cases. Pet owners who think their feline may have been infected are urged to contact their veterinarian. Experts say there has been a handful of H5N1 cases in domestic dogs but overall, they are less susceptible to the virus. Pets that remain indoors should be at low risk of catching the virus. Veterinarians said owners should avoid feeding their pets raw milk or raw meat, which both could potentially transmit the virus.