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Louisiana - Avian influenza in mammals 2025-2026

Pathfinder

Pathfinder

Editor, Senior Moderator
Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Mammals


Last Modified: January 21, 2025
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https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/mammals
 
Source: https://lailluminator.com/2025/01/23/bird-flu-cat/


Bird flu case confirmed in domestic cat in New Orleans
By: Arielle Robinson, Verite - January 23, 2025 5:03 pm
A microscopic view of avian influenza H5N1 viruses​

NEW ORLEANS – The state of Louisiana identified a case of a domestic cat with bird flu in New Orleans, according to a spokesperson from the city’s Health Department and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture database, the cat was collected on Jan. 7 and diagnosed with bird flu on Jan. 14.

The Louisiana Department of Health, which informed the city of the infection, referred Verite News to the agriculture and forestry department.

This is not the first case of bird flu in Louisiana. Along with previously reported infections of animals, a human case was recently reported in the state.​..
 
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Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana
/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaquemines_Parish,_Louisiana
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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Update

January 24, 2025
News article

H5N1 HPAI confirmed in feral domestic cat

Key Points
  • A feral domestic cat was picked up in Plaquemines Parish and subsequently neutered.
  • The cat was euthanized in Orleans Parish and sent to the Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (LADDL) for preliminary testing following signs of neurological disease.
  • Presumptive positive results were confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Service Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa.
  • Following monitoring, no signs of avian influenza were detected in the exposed parties.
  • No other suspicious cases have been reported.
  • If you suspect an animal may be infected with avian influenza, contact your local veterinarian immediately.
  • Animal health staff should wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when in contact with animals suspected or confirmed of being infected with HPAI, acutely sick animals that have a history of exposure to raw milk, wild birds, or raw or undercooked animal products.
Background

On January 24, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry announced the detection of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a feral domestic cat in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Some avian influenza viruses can affect animals, such as cats, dogs, and some pocket pets.

Since the current highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak began, many domestic cats (including pet, barn, and feral cats) have been infected and become severely ill or died from HPAI. Animals can be exposed to the virus and possibly infected from direct contact with infected birds (or their environment) or from consuming contaminated raw meat or raw (unpasteurized) milk.

For information about HPAI detections in mammals throughout the United States, visit the USDA's Detections of HPAI in Mammals webpage.

Clinical Signs

Infection may cause mild to severe disease, including death. Since clinical signs in animals may mimic other respiratory or neurological diseases, HPAI should be considered, especially if known risk factors exist. Risk factors for HPAI infection in animals include:
  • Recent exposure to animals or premises known to be infected or contaminated with HPAI
  • Recent exposure to or ingestion of dead birds (especially wild waterfowl)
  • Recent exposure to or ingestion of raw meat
  • Recent exposure to or ingestion of raw cow's milk or colostrum
Clinical signs of HPAI in animals include:
  • Fever
  • Lethargy
  • Inappetence
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Eye and/or nasal discharge
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Neurological signs (e.g., tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindness)
  • Death
Prevention

Animals can become infected with avian influenza if they eat infected birds (or other infected animals such as mice), contaminated raw meat (including raw pet food/treats), or contaminated raw milk. Animals may also become infected from direct exposure to contaminated environments or other infected animals, even though the current risk of mammal-to-mammal transmission is considered low in most situations.

We recommend:
  • Do not feed animals undercooked or raw meat, including uncooked or freeze-dried meat-based diets, treats, or animal products
  • Do not feed animals raw (unpasteurized) milk or colostrum
  • Keep animals away from wild birds, poultry, and cattle (especially in areas with known H5N1 outbreaks)
  • Prevent animals from eating birds or other wild animals
  • Wash hands after handling raw meat and after any encounters with poultry, livestock, or wild animals
  • If you interact with any sick or dead animals that may harbor avian influenza virus, change your clothes and shoes and wash your hands thoroughly
  • If you suspect your animal may be infected with avian influenza, contact your veterinarian immediately
While HPAI is typically a respiratory virus in its natural hosts, ingestion is an important route of infection in most species, especially mammals. Mammal infections typically result in acute to per-acute neurological symptoms and encephalitis, although the symptoms are dose-dependent and in some mammal cases with minimal exposures, symptoms may be mild to moderate, and patients may recover.

HPAI should be considered as a rule-out in encephalitis or other cases exhibiting neurological symptoms or acute respiratory distress without a clear disease process diagnosed. A history of exposure to sick poultry, wild waterfowl, or consumption of raw milk, raw meat, or raw animal food are important risk factors for consideration.

Because of the zoonotic potential, additional precautions also should be taken to protect clinic staff with any patient where HPAI is suspected. At a minimum, the CDC high-risk personal protective equipment (PPE) guidance should be followed whenever handling a patient with suspected HPAI.

Resources

Louisiana Department of Health – Office of Public Health – Avian Influenza

American Veterinary Medical Association – Avian Influenza in pets and backyard flocks

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Detections in Mammals

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Considerations for Veterinarians: Evaluating and Handling of Cats Potentially Exposed to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Influenza in Animals

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation
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https://www.ldaf.la.gov/about/news/...influenza-update-h5n1-hpai-confirmed-in-feral

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9/15/2025
​Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry


ORDER OF THE STATE VETERINARIAN

RESCISSION OF INTRASTATE HPAI TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR LACTATING DAIRY

CATTLE FOR FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS

I. ORDER

The Order of the State Veterinarian entitled “Intrastate HPAI Testing Requirements for Lactating Dairy Cows for

Fairs and Exhibitions,” dated August 9, 2024, is hereby rescinded and all requirements set forth in that order are no

longer in place. Specifically,

1. Effective immediately, lactating dairy cattle are no longer required to be tested for Highly Pathogenic Avian

Influenza (HPAI) prior to admission to fairs, livestock shows, exhibitions, and breeders’ association sales.

All other Orders of the State Veterinarian regarding HPAI remain in effect at this time, including restrictions on the

movement of HPAI-positive dairy cattle into Louisiana.

II. PURPOSE

HPAI is a highly contagious and often fatal foreign animal disease affecting domestic poultry and other wild birds

which is now an emerging disease of concern in Dairy Cattle and other mammals.

On April 24, 2024, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) implemented

mandatory testing of lactating dairy cattle moving across state lines, in accordance with the “Federal Order

Requiring Testing for and Reporting of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Livestock.”

On August 9, 2024, the State Veterinarian issued an Order entitled “Intrastate HPAI Testing Requirements

for Lactating Dairy Cattle for Fairs and Exhibitions.” That order required that “(a)ll lactating dairy cattle

must be tested for HPAI and show negative test results within seven days prior to admission to all fairs,

livestock shows, exhibitions, and breeders’ sales within Louisiana.

Subsequently, in February, March, April, May, June, July, and August 2025, the Louisiana Office of

Public Health, Milk and Dairy Unit (OPHMDU) sampled all silos, representing 45 dairies in Louisiana to

complete six months of negative testing for HPAI and to comply with National Milk Testing Strategy

(NMTS). All samples were sent to the National Veterinary Service Laboratory (NVSL) for testing and all

were negative for HPAI.

The State of Louisiana has met all the requirements through our statewide surveillance program to determine state

status through NMTS and currently holds a NMTS status of Stage 4, unaffected with HPAI.

For these reasons, the requirements for HPAI testing of lactating dairy cattle for fairs, livestock shows, exhibitions,

and breeders’ association sales are no longer warranted.

https://assets.ctfassets.net/pc5e1r...sion_of_HPAI_fair_restrictions_.9-15-2025.pdf
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Union Parish
/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Parish,_Louisiana
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Nearly 40 confirmed cases of bird flu in Northeast Louisiana, state officials report
...
By Sophia Hauswirth
Published: Dec. 22, 2025 at 3:21 PM CST|Updated: 18 hours ago

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is warning Northeast Louisiana residents about a rise in avian influenza, also known as bird flu.
...
Deadly infections of the virus have been reported in dogs, cats, foxes and even dolphins. Johnathan Roberts, an LDWF veterinarian, confirmed one bobcat in Union Parish was found dead and tested positive for the bird flu.
...

https://www.knoe.com/2025/12/22/nea...u-northeast-louisiana-state-officials-report/
 
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