#18,375
Two days ago, in NYC DOH: Investigating Two Cats Infected With H5N1, we saw a brief announcement on an investigation into the deaths of 2 cats in NYC due to H5N1. Initial details were scant, as exposures were still under investigation.
Yesterday the plot thickened when NYC Health released a much more comprehensive statement, one which introduces a third `probable' infection - Cat C - (recovered, but not tested), and the suspicion of cat-to-cat transmission.
While cat-to-cat transmission of H5N1 has been long considered possible, in most cases where multiple cats have been infected, it has been impossible to eliminate other potential (shared) routes of infection.
In 2006, a study at Erasmus Medical Center (see Influenza A Virus (H5N1) Infection in Cats Causes Systemic Disease with Potential Novel Routes of Virus Spread within and between Hosts), showed that experimentally infected cats excreted the virus in their feces, suggesting that cat-to-cat transmission of H5N1 virus was possible.
We have seen evidence of cat-to-cat transmission of another avian flu virus - H7N2 - to hundreds of cats in NYC animal shelters in 2016 (see NYC Health Dept. Statement On Avian H7N2 In Cats).
In that outbreak, cat-to-human transmission was also documented (see J Infect Dis: Serological Evidence Of H7N2 Infection Among Animal Shelter Workers, NYC 2016). Which is one of the reasons why - eleven months ago - the CDC issued specific Guidance for Veterinarians: Evaluating & Handling Cats Potentially Exposed to HPAI H5N1.
While convoluted - and missing a crucial piece of evidence (a positive test on Cat C) - today's report strongly suggests that `bridge' between Cat A (who ate raw pet food) and Cat B (from another household, who did not eat raw pet food) was likely Cat C, which was fed raw pet food and was treated at the same veterinarian as Cat B.
I've reproduced the NYC statement below (emphasis mine). I'll have a bit more after the break.
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 1152026. 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
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.
- 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
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.
The exact exposure of Cat B to Cat C is not described in this release, making it difficult to speculate on how the virus might have been transmitted (fomites, direct contact, airborne, etc.). Hopefully more details are forthcoming.
Savage pet food announced a recall yesterday (link), stating:
Savage Cat Food Large Chicken Boxes and Small Chicken Boxes were distributed to retailers in California, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington.
In this recall, they warn:
While no human infections have been identified among people handling raw pet food products, humans can become infected if live virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth. People should wash their hands while handling raw products and sanitize contact surfaces. People who handled the recalled products should watch for symptoms of bird flu, including eye redness or irritation (conjunctivitis), cough, sore throat, sneezing, runny/stuffy nose, muscle/body aches, headaches, fatigue, fever, trouble breathing, seizures, rash, diarrhea, nausea, and/or vomiting. People exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare provider and local health department.
Two months ago the US FDA Issued New Requirements For Pet Food Manufacturers - APHIS Updates Turkey Surveillance Policies, although it left the corrective steps largely up to the manufacturers (see snippet below).
Under the PCAF requirements, animal food businesses must conduct a reanalysis of their food safety plan when the FDA determines it is necessary to respond to new hazards and developments in scientific understanding.
The FDA has determined that it is necessary for cat and dog food manufacturers covered by the PCAF rule, who are using uncooked or unpasteurized materials derived from poultry or cattle (e.g., uncooked meat, unpasteurized milk, unpasteurized eggs) in cat or dog food, to reanalyze their food safety plans to include H5N1 as a new known or reasonably foreseeable hazard.
Admittedly, there are limits to what a manufacturer can do to prevent H5N1 contamination of raw milk, dairy, and poultry products. The only safe assumption is that raw food products carry more inherent health risks than pasteurized, or cooked products.
For other recent pet food recalls, you may wish to revisit:
Washington State (WSDA) Announces 2 Households with H5N1 Infected Cats Linked to Raw Food
Oregon Dept. of Agriculture Statement On H5N1 In Domestic Cats - WSDA Health Alert on Raw Pet Food
LA County Animal HAN: H5 Bird Flu Confirmed in Three Additional Domestic Cats in LA County & in One Commercially Available Raw Pet Food Product
