This is the news: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-cats-euthanized-after-testing-positive-bird-flu-linked-raw-pet-food-2025-02-14/https://
Excerpts:
Both cats that tested positive ate the same brand of pet food, Wild Coast Raw, before becoming ill, Oregon’s agriculture department said. Testing confirmed the presence of bird flu in the cats and food samples, according to the department.
The owners of the cats, which lived in separate households, decided to euthanize them because of the severity of their illnesses, the department said. It advised people not to feed undercooked or raw meat to pets.
Wild Coast mainly sources its chicken meat from California and only buys human-grade poultry manufactured in facilities inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, owner Tyler Duncan said. The company is working with a third-party lab for internal screening of bird flu in its food, he said.
Millions of chickens and turkeys have been wiped out by the virus in recent months in California, while about two-thirds of the state’s dairy herds have been infected since the end of August.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture last month recommended increased testing for turkeys in Minnesota and South Dakota, following the death of another cat in Oregon that contracted bird flu after eating pet food made with raw turkey.
Poor cats. Poor birds.
Although it happened in the US, it is prudent to take note as diseases spread very quickly nowadays.
Photo credit: (the link above)
I typed in this question: Can bird flu be transmitted through cooked food and eggs, and the answer from the internet is as below:
No, bird flu cannot be transmitted through properly cooked eggs or food.
Explanation
- Cooking eggs and poultry to a safe internal temperature kills viruses and bacteria, including avian influenza.
- The USDA inspects poultry products for disease before and after slaughter.
- There is no evidence that anyone has been infected with bird flu from eating properly cooked eggs.
To prevent food safety hazards, you can:
- Clean, separate, cook, and chill food
- Cook poultry and eggs to a safe internal temperature
- Prevent cross-contamination between raw and cooked food
- Wash your hands after handling raw animal products
- Use single-use gloves when handling eggshells
- Avoid touching your face with your hands before washing them
You can get bird flu by:
- Coming into contact with an infected animal’s body fluids, like spit, milk, respiratory droplets, or poo
- Breathing in small dust particles in animal habitats
- Getting it into your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching body fluids
If you’re traveling to countries that have had an outbreak of bird flu, you should avoid markets where live birds are sold.
Stay safe, everyone and let’s keep our pets safe. It pays to be too careful.
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