LOS ANGELES, California – Authorities on the West Coast issued an urgent warning to pet owners Thursday about a recall of raw and frozen pet food contaminated with the H5N1 bird flu virus. The Bird Flu contamination has been linked to the death of a domestic cat, raising concerns about the virus’s spread to animals and humans.
Details of the Recall
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) announced a recall of the turkey recipe from the Northwest Naturals brand after testing confirmed the presence of a highly pathogenic H5N1 strain. The product was sold in at least 12 U.S. states, including California, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and British Columbia, Canada.
Dr. Ryan Scholz, a state veterinarian with the ODA, confirmed that a domestic cat, which had no outdoor exposure to the virus, contracted bird flu after consuming the contaminated pet food.
“This cat was strictly indoors, had no exposure to the virus in its environment, and genome sequencing confirmed that the virus found in the raw pet food and the infected cat matched exactly,” Scholz explained.
Risk to Humans and Pets
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is monitoring household members who had contact with the infected cat for potential flu symptoms. Authorities have assured the public that the risk of transmission to humans remains low.
“To date, no human cases of bird flu have been linked to this incident, and the risk to people remains low in Oregon,” the statement noted.
However, authorities and the manufacturer have urged pet owners to dispose of the contaminated product immediately to prevent further infections.
Widespread Bird Flu Impact
The situation in Oregon differs significantly from neighboring states like California, Idaho, and Nevada, where bird flu outbreaks have impacted dairy herds. Nationwide, over 700 cases of bird flu have been confirmed across 16 states, and California has been one of the hardest-hit states.
Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in response to the virus’s spread through the state’s dairy farms. Cases have also been reported in farmworkers and even a child who contracted the virus, according to public health officials.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that at least 61 people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu since April, most of them workers exposed to infected livestock or poultry. Over half of these cases (34) occurred in California, with the majority linked to contaminated dairy products, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
Cat Deaths Raise Concern
The virus’s impact has not been limited to livestock. In December, the death of 20 felines at an animal sanctuary in Washington state was linked to bird flu, according to the Wild Felid Advocacy Center, which oversees the sanctuary.
This alarming trend highlights the need for vigilance among pet owners and workers in the livestock and poultry industries to prevent the virus from spreading further.In light of this unfortunate situation, we want to express our deepest sympathies to the pet owners who have been affected.
If you are a pet owner impacted by this recall and believe your consumer rights have been violated, we encourage you to contact an attorney expert on defective products. Our legal experts can evaluate your case and determine the most appropriate legal action to protect your interests.
