Domestic cat in Wyoming tests positive for bird flu - April 6, 2023

[Shiloh]

Source: https://bnonews.com/index.php/2023/04/cat-in-wyoming-tests-positive-for-bird-flu/

Cat in Wyoming tests positive for bird flu
Published 43 mins ago
on April 6, 2023
BNO News

A domestic cat in Wyoming has tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza after eating a bird, making it the first such case in the U.S., local officials say. A dog in Canada died of bird flu last week.

The Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory said in a brief statement that a barn cat had tested positive for bird flu near Thermopolis, a small town in Hot Springs County, about 110 miles southeast of Casper.

“This is the first report of HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) in a domestic cat in Wyoming, and it likely became infected from ingesting meat from wild waterfowl,” the lab’s statement said.

The statement provided no details about the cat’s condition...

 

[Michael Coston]

Here's the statement from the Wyoming State Veterinary Lab.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a Domestic Cat


WSVL diagnosed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in a barn cat near Thermopolis, WY. We know that wild birds, particularly water fowl, have been affected in large numbers by HPAI, but in recent months we have detected the virus in wild carnivorous mammals including mountain lions and a red fox. This is the first report of HPAI in a domestic cat in Wyoming, and it likely became infected from ingesting meat from wild waterfowl. Clinical signs for mammals include those that are associated with neurological signs including change in behavior, decrease in awareness of surroundings and loss of energy. These signs may be indistinguishable from an animal affected with rabies.

For testing of domestic species, we recommend your veterinarian submitting the whole carcass. Please contact the Wyoming Game and Fish Dept (WGFD) for disposal recommendations for any dead waterfowl your pets can access, or to report dead or sick wild carnivores. As the HPAI outbreak continues, please make sure that you are using gloves and masks when handling sick or dead mammals and birds. Report any sick wildlife to the WGFD through the online reporting tool at the link in the title.

 

[Mary Wilson]

BNO News Source:

Domestic cat in Wyoming tests positive for bird flu

April 6, 2023, 10:06 PM
Source: https://bnonews.com/index.php/2023/0...-for-bird-flu/