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The FDA lately launched a file providing steering on methods to decrease the danger of extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in pussycats and highlighting fresh investigations on HPAI an infection in cats. In step with the FDA file, pussycats—each home and wild species like tigers, mountain lions, and lynx— are particularly at risk of HPAI H5N1, so precautions must be taken to forestall their publicity to the virus.1Clinical indicators of HPAI an infection are higher understood in cats than in canine, in keeping with the American Veterinary Scientific Affiliation (AVMA).2 Nonetheless, each dogs and pussycats displaying any of the next signs must obtain instructed veterinary treatment1,2:FeverLethargyLow appetiteReddened or infected eyesDischarge from the eyes and noseDifficulty breathingNeurologic indicators, like tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindnessTo assist save you the danger of a HPAI an infection in cats and canine, the AVMA recommends keeping up cats indoors; maintaining pets that cross outside clear of wild birds, poultry, and farm animals, together with those animals’ environments; making sure pets don’t devour useless birds or different animals; and steerage transparent of feeding pets uncooked meat or poultry and unpasteurized milk.2According to the FDA file, a number of investigations have proven that HPAI can unfold to cats thru meals, with the most typical path of transmission being uncooked or undercooked meats and unpasteurized milk. “Cats must now not be fed any merchandise from affected farms that experience now not been totally cooked or pasteurized to kill the virus. Cats must even be stored from looking and eating wild birds,” wrote the FDA.1A find out about printed via the Facilities for Illness Keep watch over and Prevention (CDC) in July 2024 on HPAI A(H5N1) an infection in home dairy farm animals and pussycats in the USA detailed that home cats fed uncooked colostrum and milk from inflamed farm animals evolved a deadly machine influenza an infection. Those cats additionally exhibited neurologic indicators ahead of demise. Affected farm animals, in the meantime, confirmed indicators of nonspecific sickness, decreased feed consumption and rumination, and a surprising decline in milk manufacturing.1,3In Seoul, South Korea, investigators reported a couple of instances of HPAI in 2023 from July of the similar yr at 2 cat shelters the place the pussycats have been fed uncooked meals that was once “improperly sterilized” and comprised of home duck meat.1,4 In step with the find out about, the postmortem exam of the cats confirmed “systemic pathologic lesions.” Moreover, the virus was once discovered in numerous tissues.4The United States Division of Agriculture runs a trying out program to hit upon HPAI in wild mammals, together with each feral and home pussycats, in keeping with the FDA.1 Those most up-to-date HPAI detections can also be discovered at the usda.gov site. ReferencesFDA outlines techniques to scale back chance of HPAI in cats. United States Meals & Drug Management. December 13, 2024. Accessed December 17, 2024. influenza in pets and yard flocks. American Veterinary Scientific Affiliation. Accessed December 17, 2024. ER, Magstadt DR, Petersen B, et al. Extremely Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b Virus An infection in Home Dairy Livestock and Cats, United States, 2024. Rising Infectious Sicknesses. 2024;30(7):1335-1343. doi:10.3201/eid3007.240508.Kang Y, Heo G, An S, et al. Extremely Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus An infection in Cats, South Korea, 2023. Rising Infectious Sicknesses. 2024;30(12):2510-2520. doi:10.3201/eid3012.240154.
