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Second Pet Food Recall Amid Rising H5N1 Cases

3/2/2025

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Pet Food Recall

A second voluntary recall of raw pet food has been issued in the US as H5N1 bird flu cases emerge in cats from Oregon and Washington. Since 2022, nearly 100 domestic cats have been infected, raising alarms among experts who caution against the dangers of feeding raw food to pets, highlighting the risk of transmission to humans.

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Cat Euthanized Due to Bird Flu

A feral cat in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, has been euthanized after becoming the state's first confirmed case of H5N1 bird flu. Officials believe the cat likely contracted the virus from wild birds. While farms across the nation face outbreaks, health authorities assure that the risk to humans remains low.

History

Historical Context

The recent H5N1 bird flu cases in cats, prompting pet food recalls, echo earlier avian influenza outbreaks. The first human case of H5N1 occurred in Hong Kong in 1997, leading to mass culls of infected poultry. Since then, H5N1 has spread globally, raising concerns about zoonotic transmission and the potential for a pandemic, as seen with earlier influenza strains.

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Pet Food Recall

A second voluntary recall of raw pet food has been issued in the US as H5N1 bird flu cases emerge in cats from Oregon and Washington. Since 2022, nearly 100 domestic cats have been infected, raising alarms among experts who caution against the dangers of feeding raw food to pets, highlighting the risk of transmission to humans.

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