Chicken flu has been detected in home cats throughout america. Are there dangers of cat-to-human transmission?
RT’s Three Key Takeaways
- H5N1 Chicken Flu Infections in Home Cats: The US Division of Agriculture has documented instances of H5N1 fowl flu in home cats throughout 18 states.
- Human Threat Low—However Not Zero: Threat of cat-to-human transmission is extraordinarily low, however could improve with extended, unprotected publicity to contaminated animals.
- What Can Cat Homeowners Do? A College of Illinois veterinary scientist discusses how cats contract fowl flu, what signs to search for, and what precautions pet house owners can take.
Chicken Flu Infections in Home Cats
The US Division of Agriculture has documented a complete of 36 instances of H5N1 fowl flu in home cats in 2025 (as of April 2nd), in keeping with the division’s Animal and Plant Well being Inspection Service (APHIS) database.1 Since 2023, a complete of 97 home cats have been contaminated with H5N1 fowl flu.1
Of the 97 instances since 2023, California has reported essentially the most at 20, adopted by Oregon (14), Colorado (9), South Dakota (9), and 4 different states with a minimum of six instances.
Cats are reportedly weak to extreme illness as soon as contaminated, with a mortality charge of as much as 50-70%.2-3 A July 2024 case report from the CDC documented a fatality charge of ≈50% in cats contaminated with H5N1 after they consumed uncooked (unpasteurized) colostrum and milk from contaminated dairy cows. Scientists warned the similarities in scientific illness between these cats and others contaminated through wild birds “increase new considerations concerning the potential for virus unfold inside mammal populations.”2
Beforehand, H5N1 had restricted an infection in mammals, however mutations within the virus have allowed it to contaminate totally different mammal species together with home and wild cats, in keeping with Dr Leyi Wang, a scientific affiliate professor of Veterinary Medical Medication on the College of Illinois School of Veterinary Medication.
“To date, 43 kinds of mammals have examined optimistic for fowl flu within the US, with home cats being the best quantity,” Dr Wang mentioned in a information launch.4 “And with a respiratory virus like influenza, we all know many extra are contaminated than have been identified.”
The H5N1 infections in home cats, unfold throughout 18 states, have raised considerations over the hazard of illness unfold in family pets, and the potential for cat-to-human transmission of avian flu, much like human exposures from different animals like poultry and dairy cows.
In keeping with the CDC, most H5N1 infections in home cats have occurred at avian influenza A(H5N1)-affected farms, the place they’ve been uncovered to contaminated poultry, contaminated dairy cows, or wild birds.5
Dr Wang, who just lately recognized H5N1 in a cat at UI’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. defined, “Cats can catch fowl flu by means of ingesting uncooked milk, consuming uncooked pet meals containing poultry akin to duck, rooster or turkey, publicity to or consuming useless birds outdoors, contact with contaminated clothes, particularly footwear or boots, or publicity to wild waterfowl.”4
Previous to February 2025, documented instances of H5N1 fowl flu in home cats had been restricted to outdoor-only animals. Nevertheless, in keeping with a latest CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), highly-pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus was detected in two indoor-only home cats for the primary time. The animals, which suffered respiratory and neurologic sickness, lived in houses of dairy staff however had no recognized direct publicity to HPAI A(H5N1)–affected farms, the CDC reported.6
The company says, whereas uncommon, it’s doable for indoor-only cats to be contaminated with avian influenza virus, seemingly by means of contact with contaminated animals or folks, or contaminated surfaces like clothes.5
In keeping with the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation (AVMA), it’s unclear whether or not cats contaminated with H5N1 fowl flu can infect different cats, however “that risk can’t be dismissed.”7
Human Threat Low—However Not Zero
For the reason that present H5N1 outbreak started in March 2024, 70 people have been contaminated with the virus in america, in keeping with information from the CDC.8 One dying was reported in January 2025, a 65-year previous man in Louisiana with underlying medical circumstances who contracted the virus by means of publicity to wild and yard birds.9
Transmission vectors for these people had been publicity to diary herds/cattle (41 instances), poultry farms and culling operations (24) and different animal exposures like yard flocks, wild birds, or different mammals (2), in keeping with the CDC.8
To this point, there have been no studies of H5N1 fowl flu transmission from cats to people, however that risk just isn’t with out precedent.
The primary ever cat-to-human transmission of influenza A(H7N2), an avian-lineage influenza A virus, was reported in 2016.10 In that case, a veterinarian contracted the virus throughout an outbreak of H7N2 amongst cats in New York Metropolis animal shelters. Researchers examined 165 people with exposures to contaminated cats and reported just one case, concluding “threat for cat-to-human transmission was low.” 10
In its February 2025 report, the CDC mentioned, that though uncommon, indoor cats contaminated with H5N1 “would possibly pose a threat for human an infection.” The company scientists wrote: “Presumed cat-to-human transmission of low pathogenic avian influenza A(H7N2) virus in an animal shelter in 2016 means that publicity to cats contaminated with HPAI A(H5N1) virus may additionally pose a transmission threat to people.”6
Regardless of the low threat of transmission, the CDC urges precautions for sure occupations with common publicity to cats.5 “Veterinarians and veterinary employees in subject and scientific settings who’re working in shut contact with cats who’re suspected or confirmed-positive for avian influenza A(H5N1) virus an infection ought to take precautions to stop direct contact with an contaminated animal with out private protecting tools (PPE),” the CDC says.5
What Can Cat Homeowners Do?
The American Veterinary Medical Affiliation (AVMA) says scientific indicators of H5N1 in cats embrace: lack of urge for food, lethargy, and fever, then different respiratory indicators, together with speedy or problem respiration, and probably sneezing or coughing, neurologic indicators (akin to ataxia, circling, tremors, seizures, or blindness), extreme melancholy, and heavy discharge from the nostril and eyes.7
The group encourages pet house owners to play it protected if they believe their cat is contaminated by notifying a veterinary clinic previous to arriving with a probably contaminated cat, monitoring members of the family for signs, limiting the cat’s contact with immunocompromised people, and following CDC suggestions.7
Dr Wang echoed these sentiments. He cautioned pet house owners to maintain pets away from wild birds, poultry and cattle, to chorus from feeding cats uncooked meat or uncooked milk.4
For animal staff, he inspired them to scrub their palms nicely after interacting with poultry, livestock or animals outdoors the family, and to vary clothes and footwear after interacting with animals or birds with unknown well being standing previous to interacting with pets.4
“At present, there is no such thing as a accessible vaccine for H5N1 in cats or different pets,” mentioned Dr. Wang. “Sadly, solely supportive care is out there for cats with fowl flu, and no antiviral medicine are but accessible.”
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