(DCWatchdog.com) – In a concerning incident, more than half of the domestic cats on a Texas dairy farm that were fed raw milk from cows infected with the bird flu virus became ill and perished, as indicated in a preliminary report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The investigation by the CDC, centered on the transmission of bird flu within the cattle industry this year, highlights these initial findings.
Scientists noted that in mid-March, around 24 cats were given raw milk on a Texas farm prior to the detection of the illness in the cows.
One day following the manifestation of symptoms in the cows, the cats exhibited similar signs of sickness, and within one to two days, more than half of the cats succumbed to the illness, The Hill reports.
Autopsies on two of the deceased cats revealed “depressed mental state, stiff body movements, ataxia, blindness, circling, and copious oculonasal discharge.”
Additionally, neurological assessments of the afflicted cats demonstrated the “absence of menace reflexes and pupillary light responses with a weak blink response,” according to the scientists.
These recent findings have heightened concerns regarding potential cross-species and mammal-to-mammal transmission of the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1).
This report contrasts with previous research suggesting limited susceptibility of cows to this infection.
Instead, the cattle displayed systemic symptoms, diminished milk production, and significant viral shedding in their milk.
“The magnitude of this finding is further emphasized by the high death rate (≈50%) of cats on farm premises that were fed raw colostrum and milk from affected cows,” the scientists documented.
The initial detection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the country occurred in late 2021, and recent instances in cattle have significantly impacted the industry.
Observations of infections have been made on cattle farms in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Idaho, and Ohio, indicating possible cow-to-cow transmission.
Last month marked the reporting of the first human case linked to these infections in cattle and birds.
A worker on a commercial dairy farm in Texas developed conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, on March 27 and subsequently tested positive for HPAI, according to the CDC.
The affected individual did not exhibit any additional symptoms, was not hospitalized, received antiviral treatment, and is currently recovering. Furthermore, no other household members have reported illnesses.
“No additional cases of human infection with the HPAI A(H5N1) virus associated with the current infections in dairy cattle and birds in the United States, and no human-to-human transmission of HPAI A(H5N1) virus have been identified,” stated the CDC.
The CDC advises individuals engaged in occupations or recreational activities that might expose them to infected birds, cattle, or other animals to exercise caution due to their elevated risk.
Historically, the virus has been extremely lethal, with a fatality rate exceeding 50 percent among human cases from 2003 to 2016.
The current outbreak has spread to 82 million birds across 48 states, marking the most severe bird flu outbreak in U.S. history.
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