Bird Flu Outbreak at Texas Dairy Farm
In a concerning case out of the US state of Texas, more than half of the cats at a dairy farm died after they drank raw milk from cows that tested positive for bird flu. The incident took place a month after the US Department of Agriculture reported the first confirmed case of bird flu in cows.
Case Details
- The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report stating that a dozen domestic cats on a farm in Texas died after contracting a highly contagious strain of bird flu.
- The cats on the Texas farm had been fed raw milk from cows infected with avian influenza. The cats fell ill the day after consuming the milk, showing symptoms like watery eyes and noses, disorientation, and eventual death.
- Researchers found high amounts of the virus in the bodies of the deceased cats, indicating a fatal systemic influenza infection.
Outbreak Progression
The US has been experiencing a bird flu outbreak since late 2021, with the virus spreading to multiple states. Infected cows have shown reduced feed intake and milk production, while the cats developed fatal infections from consuming unpasteurized milk.
Concerns and Warnings
- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found bird flu virus fragments in 20% of retail milk samples but assured the safety of pasteurized milk.
- Dairy herds in nine states have been affected by bird flu, with at least one farm worker contracting the virus.
- The FDA advises against consuming unpasteurized milk during the outbreak to prevent potential cross-species transmission of the virus.