On April 30, a report printed within the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention’s Rising Infectious Illnesses journal took a deep dive into the extremely pathogenic avian influenza. HPAI H5N1 first began spreading amongst cows earlier this yr. Nonetheless, veterinarians at the moment are involved as greater than half the cats who drank uncooked milk from the contaminated cows at a Texas farm are lifeless.
Greater than half the cats die after consuming milk from chicken flu-infected cows
The lifeless cats examined optimistic for chicken flu after consuming uncooked milk on the first dairy farm that reported the unfold of avian influenza. The farm first seen their cows getting sick after which began catching a number of of their cats falling sick as properly. Sadly, earlier than something might be accomplished, the felines have been lifeless, as per CBS.
What raised suspicion was the cats dying with none indicators of harm. It led to samples being collected from their brains and lungs. They reportedly had “excessive quantities of virus nucleic acid.” The samples additional revealed the cats additionally had “microscopic lesions per extreme systemic virus an infection.”
Cats are extremely weak to HPAI H5N1. So, sadly, it’s not sudden that a number of of them died after contracting chicken flu. However scientists are extra shocked by the virus spreading from cows to cats, which was unprecedented till just lately.
HPAI H5N1 has typically led to deaths and neurological problems in home cats. Nonetheless, vets have been suggested to put on goggles and respirators whereas working with latest circumstances of chicken flu infections amongst felines to keep away from contracting the identical.
Efforts are additionally being made to cease the unfold of HPAI H5N1 amongst cows. Whereas solely 15% of cows in herds identified with the an infection have proven indicators of sickness, they’re spreading it to poultry and home cats.
Veterinarians advise staying away from uncooked milk for the foreseeable future. It is very important be aware that unpasteurized dairy merchandise are a few of the riskiest meals proper now. Nonetheless, pasteurization does kill it. So, one doesn’t want to fret about them or their cats getting contaminated in the event that they eat pasteurized milk.