๐ฑ With Bird Flu Found in Dairy Cows, Experts Warn Raw Milk Poses Danger to Pets
Animal health experts are advising against feeding raw milk to cats due to rising concerns about a bird flu outbreak in dairy cows.
๐ Increasing Concerns
Bird flu has been found in dairy cows across nine states, including Michigan and Ohio. Experts are warning that raw milk, which is illegal to sell to consumers in states like Indiana and Kentucky, poses a danger to pets, especially cats.
In Texas, several cats consuming raw milk have been infected with bird flu and, in some cases, have died.
“Some people buy raw milk as pet food, and that’s a significant concern,” says Denise Derrer-Spears, spokesperson for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. “Cats have died on some of these farms where bird flu has been detected.”
โ ๏ธ Health Warnings
In early May, the Indiana State Chemist issued a warning to consumers about feeding raw milk to pets, highlighting recent feline fatalities linked to raw milk consumption.
The advisory stated: “Cats consuming HPAI (bird flu)-infected milk have been infected and have died in Ohio, New Mexico, and Texas. More than half of the cats died, showing no apparent signs of injury. Autopsies revealed severe systemic virus infection affecting organs like the brain and eyes.”
๐ฆ Broader Impact
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, bird flu has been found in various wild animals, including foxes, seals, and polar bears, in addition to poultry, dairy cows, and cats.
Scientists warn that each time the virus jumps to a new animal host, the risk of it jumping to humans increases. Dairy cows are of particular concern due to their close contact with farmworkers.
๐ฌ Pasteurization Safety
Testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found remnants of the bird flu virus in commercial milk. However, the pasteurization process kills the virus, making pasteurized milk safe for humans to drink.
At present, health officials state that the risk to the general public remains low. Nonetheless, cat owners and pet owners, in general, are urged to be cautious and avoid feeding raw milk to their pets to ensure their safety.