New York - Avian influenza in mammals and livestock 2024-2025

[Commonground]

Brooklyn kitten ID’d as second NYC avian flu victim after contracting virus from another cat
March 15, 2025

A Brooklyn kitten has been identified as the second confirmed feline victim of avian flu in New York City — having contracted the contagion from another infected cat.

Valentino, a 1-year-old domestic shorthair, was technically the first cat in the Big Apple to die from the H5N1 virus after undergoing an emergency euthanasia on Feb. 1, Dr. Natara Loose of The Neighborhood Vet in Bushwick, told The Post.

His case was only confirmed this week after a second cat, an 8-month-old Upper West Side kitten, succumbed to the same fate.


“Legitimately, had this little kitten not died recently and had it not been confirmed this week, I would still be in the process, probably for an unknown period of time, of not knowing how Valentino got it or how he died … no one would have put it out there, so it’s good news for the public,” Loose, Valentino’s veterinarian and owner, explained.

Valentino was put to sleep just 24 hours after he recorded a jaw-dropping 106-degree fever.
-snip-

“I euthanized him and he was here. I’m kissing him,” Loose said in a social media video, indicating she was holding Valentino close when he was put to sleep.

Government officials were suspicious, however, because Valentino had not consumed any raw meat — which had caused the deaths of at least 85 cats across the US since 2022.

Suspecting her beloved kitten’s cause of death, Loose submitted Valentino for a necropsy, where it was confirmed that every organ of his body was infected by bird flu via tainted food.
-snip-

Further investigation revealed that Valentino had contracted the virus from a third cat, “Cat C,” who had been rushed into The Neighborhood Vet days before Valentino’s death.

“That cat had a mild fever. No respiratory signs, just a little uncomfortable in his belly and went home the next day completely normal,” Loose said.

“I read through the history of the cat and the cat had eaten the same food.”
-snip-
Though Valentino lives at the vet office, he did not have any direct contact with Cat C, Loose said, leading her to believe the avian flu was transmitted through the air.

continued. https://nypost.com/2025/03/15/us-new...-infected-cat/

[Shiloh]

Source: https://ilovetheupperwestside.com/up...th-old-kitten/

Upper West Side Vet Detects Bird Flu in 8-Month-Old Kitten
Jessica Sherif March 15, 2025

When an 8-month-old kitten was brought to Brilliant Veterinary Care on the Upper West Side with a high fever and loss of appetite, his care team searched for answers. What they found would mark one of the first confirmed cases of bird flu in a domestic cat in New York City.

The New York City Health Department has now confirmed multiple cases of avian influenza (H5N1) in domestic cats, marking a concerning development in the ongoing outbreak of the virus.

At Brilliant Vets, Dr. Deborah Bayazit and her team initially ran standard tests when the kitten arrived on March 2. “He (was) just not feeling well, not really eating. He presented with a very high fever, 106. We did bloodwork, took x-rays, everything was normal,” she explained. Despite supportive care, the kitten’s condition worsened over the next few days. His left eye became cloudy, and he developed pneumonia...

[Commonground]

New York City Department of Health

Bird Flu Detected In Two New York City Cats Is Associated With ‘Savage Cat Food’ Raw Pet Food

New York City Pet Owners Should Avoid Feeding Their Pets Raw Food or Raw Milk

Families with “Savage Cat Food” Should Check to See if Products They Have at Home Are Being Recalled

The Current Risk to New Yorkers of Bird Flu Remains Low

March 15, 2025— Today, the New York City Health Department (NYC Health Department) is advising New Yorkers to not feed their pets food from the raw pet food company Savage Cat Food. Avian influenza (bird flu) virus was detected in two cats and a suspected third cat over the past two months, all connected to Savage Cat Food, poultry packets lot number 11152026. The Health Department has shared this information with the FDA and the company. The overall risk of bird flu to the public remains low. To date, no human has developed bird flu in New York City.

“In collaboration with local, state, and federal animal health officials, the New York City Health Department has confirmed that two separate cats, and possibly a third, were infected with bird flu and have been linked to a raw poultry pet food product from Savage Cat Food. We strongly encourage New Yorkers whose cats are experiencing illness after consuming Savage Cat Food products or other raw meat or dairy products to contact their veterinarian,” said NYC Health Department Acting Commissioner, Dr. Michelle Morse. “The current risk to New Yorkers of bird flu remains low. Bird flu viruses present a wider risk to the general public only if the virus develops the ability to transmit between people — which we have not seen at this time.”

Cat A became ill this month and was hospitalized with fever, loss of appetite and severe respiratory disease following consumption of chicken packets from Savage Cat Food with the lot number 11152026. Testing for H5 bird flu was performed at the Cornell Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and confirmatory H5N1 testing by the U.S.D.A. National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) is pending. The cat died as a result of the infection.

A second cat, cat B, was diagnosed with H5N1 and testing was confirmed by NVSL last month. This cat developed fever and severe respiratory and liver disease and also died as a result of infection. Additional testing recently performed at NVSL suggests the cat was infected with an H5N1 strain related to that found in Savage Cat food, lot 11152026. This cat did not consume the raw food product but was exposed to a sick cat, cat C. Cat C became ill with fever after consuming Savage Cat Food lot number 11152026. Cat C survived and H5 testing was not performed and cannot be performed as too much time has passed.

The Health Department has been communicating with cat owners and veterinary staff, as well as Savage Pet Food. While cat H5N1 infections are rare, people who were in contact with the sick cats have been advised to monitor their health. Arrangements will be made for testing, treatment, or prophylaxis if indicated.

Tips for pet owners

• Avoid feeding pets raw food or raw milk
• If you pet has eaten raw food and shows sign of sickness, call your vet immediately and isolate from other pets
• Keep your cats indoors
• If you are walking your dog, avoid dead or sick animals

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been monitoring reports of H5N1 in cats in other states including California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington that consumed H5N1 contaminated food products. H5N1 can be transmitted to cats when they eat products like raw pet food and treats, raw milk, and raw poultry made from infected poultry or cattle.

This investigation is a coordinated effort across local, state, and federal agencies and academic partners. Additional testing by NVSL and an ongoing investigation by the FDA were crucial components, along with routine surveillance and testing across animal health partners including the NYS Department of Agriculture, the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, the New York State Department of Health, and local veterinarians who diligently identified and assisted with the identification of these cases.

For more information:

NYC Health Department - Avian Flu

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Resource Center - Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

FDA Outlines Ways to Reduce Risk of HPAI in Cats

USDA lists all confirmed cases of HPAI in domestic cats

https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/about/p...-pet-food.page

[sharon sanders]

Please notice that the New York City officials are telling peeps to keep their cats indoors. This has nothing to do with a warning on prepared cat food. It is a warning on H5N1 in the environment.

Keep your cats indoors.

[Commonground]

please see this. https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/...10#post1009810

[Pathfinder]

Related to post #16:

The Neighborhood Vet
1d ·
Valentino will live on forever. In yet just one more way. This is now the official release as of a few minutes ago. Please see the lot number listed from Savage. If you are using raw food from this company, and especially this lot number please DO NOT USE!!!!...

https://www.facebook.com/theneighborhoodvet/posts/pfbid02u2EoxhVo7t4bY8majma6u3sXXd3DjXGh1wbDCYwngE7dVKtQsaedq9HD5p6khwLml

[tetano]

J Wildl Dis


. 2025 Mar 19.
doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-24-00137. Online ahead of print.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Exposure and Infection in Free-Ranging Bobcats (Lynx rufus) in New York, USA

Haley M Turner ¹ , Angela K Fuller ² , Joshua P Twining ³ , Gavin R Hitchener ^{4 5} , Melissa A Fadden ⁵ , David E Stallknecht ⁶ , Rebecca L Poulson ⁶ , Deborah L Carter ⁶ , Mandy B Watson ⁷ , Krysten L Schuler ^{5 8} , Jennifer C Bloodgood ^{5 8}



Affiliations

• PMID: 40103422
• DOI: 10.7589/JWD-D-24-00137

Abstract

Highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza A virus (HP H5N1) cases in wild mammals have been increasing globally. Carnivora has been the most affected mammal order; however, the extent of morbidity and mortality in carnivores exposed to HP H5N1 remains undefined. We assessed the presence of antibodies to H5 and N1 in the sera of 16 live-captured bobcats (Lynx rufus) in New York State, USA; reported on postcapture outcomes of HP H5N1-exposed bobcats; and reported on a case of HP H5N1 infection in one bobcat. In 2024, 4/16 (25%) bobcats tested positive for antibodies to H5 and N1. Two were confirmed alive as of November 2024 according to GPS data; the other two were alive as of June 2024, when their GPS collars stopped communicating. Another bobcat, which was negative for HP H5N1 antibodies at capture, died from HP H5N1 infection within 5 wk of capture. Our results provide evidence of bobcats both surviving and succumbing to HP H5N1 infection and highlight the importance of focused health studies paired with monitoring data to better understand exposure, infection, and outcome for novel pathogens and species.

Keywords: Carnivore; H5N1; HPAI; emerging infectious disease; spillover; wildlife; zoonosis.

This content is only available as a PDF.
Open thePDF

https://meridian.allenpress.com/jwd/article/doi/10.7589/JWD-D-24-00137/506133/Highly-Pathogenic-Avian-Influenza-Virus-Exposure

[Pathfinder]

Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Mammals

Last Modified: March 25, 2025
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https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/mammals

[Commonground]

[bolding is mine]
BY MARK GOSHGARIAN NEW YORK STATE
PUBLISHED 5:08 PM ET MAR. 27, 2025

Researchers from Cornell University have released the results of a new study that shows the spread of avian flu has now reached wild bobcats and has also claimed the life of one that was part of the study.

"They're this cryptic species that we don't know much about,” said Jennifer Bloodgood, wildlife vet, New York State Wildlife Health Program. “You don't see them a lot when you're outside. It was a surprise to us and kind of a warning of what this could mean for their populations."

Leaders with the state's Wildlife Health Program, who have found avian flu in other mammals like skunks and squirrels, worked with licensed trappers to sedate and capture 16 bobcats for the study.

Before releasing them back into the wild, researchers placed a GPS-equipped collar on them that eventually falls off, and also collected blood and other biological samples.

"To look at dead and sick animals and look for diseases in those animals to identify potential new diseases or trends in existing diseases," said Bloodgood.

Researchers noted one of the bobcats died weeks into the study from the virus, after not having been initially exposed at the onset.

The collars of the others were found scattered in areas across the state, including Buffalo and Albany.

"So I think it's really important to monitor this disease and see what's going on so that we can protect ourselves and our pets," said Bloodgood.

Bloodgood advises keeping kids away from dead animals, wearing gloves and a mask before disposing of it or calling the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to report it.

"That lets us know what's going on in the wild, and whether we should respond or test that animal so we know about more what's going on,” said Bloodgood.

Core bobcat hotspots across the state continue to be the Adirondack, Catskill and Taconic mountains, yet have also expanded into Central and Western New York, as well as the Southern Tier.

Researchers say the marten, a type of weasel, is next on the list for testing.

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2025/03/27/study-shows-transmission-of-bird-flu-in-wild-bobcats

[Pathfinder]

March 28, 2025
|
Albany, NY

CONSUMER ALERT: Potential Avian Influenza Risk in Savage Pet Raw Cat Food

No Human Infections Have Been Identified Among People Handling Raw Pet Food Product; Risk to the Public Remains Low

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball today alerted consumers with pets to the potential presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A H5N1 virus, or avian influenza, in Savage Cat Raw Chicken Cat Food produced by Savage Pet of El Cajon, CA. On March 15, the pet food company recalled the product with a lot code/best by date of 11152026. Recent samples of cat food with this lot code were collected by the New York City Department of Health, tested at Cornell University and confirmed to contain HPAI H5N1 by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories. Illnesses in cats that have consumed this product have been reported in other states and in New York City.

Pet owners who may have Savage Cat Food Large Chicken Boxes, sold in 84-ounce cardboard boxes containing individual plastic packets, with a lot code/best by date of 11152026 andSavage Cat Food Small Chicken Boxes, sold in 21-ounce cardboard boxes containing individual plastic packets, with a lot code/best by date of 11152026, should not feed this product to their cat or other animal. The product should also not be sold or donated.

The recalled product was distributed in November 2024 and was sold at multiple retailers within New York State. The lot code/best by date can be found on the bottom of the cardboard box and on each packet. Consumers who have purchased this lot code are urged to immediately return it to their retailer for proper destruction and a full refund. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is also contacting the retailers who may have sold this product to ensure it is pulled from store shelves.

People who fed cats this product should watch the cats for symptoms of avian influenza, including fever, lethargy, low appetite, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from the eyes and nose, difficulty breathing, and neurological signs like tremors, stiff body movements, seizure, lack of coordination, or blindness. People with cats exhibiting these signs after feeding this product should immediately contact their veterinarian.

No infections have been identified among people handling raw pet food product or infected cats. While it is unlikely for humans to be infected with avian influenza viruses through contact with infected pets, owners should follow the CDC-recommended preventative measures to prevent their pets from being infected.

No H5N1 infections have been detected in humans in New York State. The New York State Department of Health continues to remind New Yorkers that the risk to the public is low. Individuals interacting with potentially infected animals are encouraged to take additional proactive measures to protect public health. The Department provides additional information about avian influenza and how the public can protect themselves. Individuals should avoid handling potentially infected animals and should take additional protective measures to protect public health if contact cannot be avoided. Avoid feeding pets raw food or raw milk as it may pose a threat to human and animal health. Always wash hands, utensils and surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after handling raw pet food.

The Department of Agriculture and Markets has issued this guidance pertaining to raw food for pets.

For additional information, contact Savage Pet at info@savagecatfood.com or (619) 270-0295.



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https://agriculture.ny.gov/news/cons...0of%2011152026.

[Pathfinder]

Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Mammals

Last Modified: April 01, 2025
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State County Date Collected Date Detected HPAI Strain Species

New York

Putnam

02/21/2025

03/25/2025

EA H5

Red fox

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https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/mammals