A California pet meals maker has recalled its uncooked hen merchandise after they have been linked to bird flu infections in two cats and suspected in a 3rd in New York Metropolis.
The recall is the newest in current months tied to merchandise probably contaminated with the virus that has sickened and killed cats in a number of states, after racing by means of poultry and dairy cattle within the U.S. and inflicting diseases in not less than 70 individuals.
Savage Pet, of El Cajon, California, this week recalled one lot of enormous and small hen packing containers as a result of they might be contaminated with Sort A H5N1 influenza virus. The packing containers are cardboard and comprise particular person plastic packages of merchandise. The lot code and best-by date 11152026 is stamped on merchandise. The pet meals was distributed in California, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington state.
New York Metropolis well being officers this week urged customers to keep away from Savage Pet merchandise due to the cats’ diseases.
One cat fell sick and died this month after consuming the Savage Pet merchandise. Last check outcomes are pending, however a preliminary check for H5N1 was “nonnegative,” which signifies that a certain quantity of virus was detected, a division spokesperson mentioned.
A second cat was identified with H5N1 and died — and checks instructed it was contaminated with a pressure associated to that discovered within the recalled Savage Pet meals. Nonetheless, that cat didn’t eat the meals; it was uncovered to a 3rd cat that fell sick after consuming the meals from the implicated lot. That cat survived however was not examined.
The New York instances are the newest reviews of cats in a number of states sickened and killed by H5N1. A minimum of 115 hen flu infections in home cats have been reported to the U.S. Agriculture Division since 2022, with most logged since 2024. Cats can catch the virus from wildlife or contaminated milk and meals.
Earlier this month, Wild Coast Raw, of Olympia, Washington, recalled frozen boneless uncooked hen cat meals after it was linked to diseases and deaths in cats in Oregon and Washington. In December, Morasch Meats of Portland, Oregon, recalled its Northwest Naturals model of uncooked and frozen turkey pet meals after it examined constructive for the virus and was linked to the dying of a neighborhood cat.
Dr. Jarra Jagne, a veterinary professional at Cornell College, mentioned pet house owners ought to keep away from feeding their animals unpasteurized milk or uncooked pet meals due to the chance of hen flu in addition to different germs akin to salmonella, listeria and E. coli.
“I would not give my animals uncooked something,” she mentioned. “It is all about cooking.”
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The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Instructional Media Group and the Robert Wooden Johnson Basis. The AP is solely liable for all content material.
