A person holds a test tube labeled 'Bird Flu' next to egg.
A domestic stray cat taken in by a family in Half Moon Bay was been confirmed to have bird flu by state veterinary and health officials, though it is not related to a recent case of bird flu in a backyard flock.
The family took the cat to the Peninsula Humane Society when it showed symptoms and lab results confirmed H5N1. It was not known how it was infected and it was euthanized, according to health officials.
Cats may be exposed to bird flu by consuming infected bird, being in environments contaminated with the virus and consuming unpasteurized milk from infected cows or raw food. Inside domestic animals, such as cats and dogs, that go outside are also at risk of infection, health officials said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of cats spreading H5N1 to people is extremely low, though it is possible for cats to spread some strains of bird flu to people. While there are no human cases of H5N1 related to this case, this detection in a cat highlights the importance of being proactive about preventing the spread of the virus, officials said.
“We all want to make sure our companion animals are healthy and safe from disease,” Lori Morton-Feazell, San Mateo County’s chief of Animal Control and Licensing, said in a press release. “If your pet is sick, your veterinarian can determine whether it should be tested for bird flu or any other virus or disease.”
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