Nationwide cat meals recall following chook flu loss of life

The loss of life of an Oregon home cat who grew to become unwell after consuming uncooked pet meals contaminated with bird flunot too long ago triggered a nationwide recall.

The Oregon Division of Agriculture (ODA) mentioned Thursday that samples of 2-pound uncooked and frozen pet meals from Northwest Naturals Turkey Recipe examined optimistic for an H5N1 pressure of the flu virus. extremely pathogenic avian (HPAI).

Assessments carried out by a number of U.S. Division of Agriculture laboratories in Oregon confirmed the presence of a home cat in Washington County contracted H5N1 and died after consuming frozen uncooked pet meals, in accordance with an ODA information launch.

Take a look at tubes labeled “Chicken Flu” and eggs are seen on this illustration. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Reuters Images)

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Testing confirmed a genetic match between the virus in uncooked and frozen pet meals and the contaminated cat, in accordance with the ODA.

“We’re assured that this cat contracted the H5N1 virus from consuming Northwest Naturals uncooked, frozen pet meals,” mentioned ODA State Veterinarian Ryan Scholz. “This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not uncovered to the virus in its atmosphere, and genome sequencing outcomes confirmed that the virus recovered from the uncooked pet meals and the contaminated cat had been a match. precisely to one another.”

The Oregon Well being Authority (OHA) and native public well being officers are monitoring family members who’ve been involved with the cat for flu signs, officers say.

A veterinarian examines a kitten with a stethoscope in a clinic. (iStock/iStock)

Northwest Naturals, a Portland, Oregon-based firm, has issued a voluntary recall for the meals, which is packaged in 2-pound plastic luggage with “Greatest if utilized by” dates of 5/21/26 B10 and from 06/23/2026 B1. .

The product was bought nationwide by way of distributors in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MI, MN, PA, RI and WA in the US and British Columbia in Canada , in accordance with the ODA. Prospects who bought the recalled product ought to instantly throw it away and speak to the place of buy for a full refund.

Though Oregon reported one confirmed human case of HPAIno human circumstances have been linked to the incident, officers mentioned.

laboratory assessments on chickens (iStock/iStock)

Neighboring states equivalent to Idaho, Nevada and California have reported HPAI cases in dairy cattle herds, contributing to greater than 700 confirmed circumstances in 16 states nationwide, in accordance with the ODA.

As a precautionary measure, the ministry introduced earlier this month that it could test the milk of all business dairies within the state.

DEF REQUIRES BIRD FLU TESTING ON MILK SUPPLY

Dairy merchandise are being examined for chook flu as circumstances are confirmed throughout the nation. (FOX/Fox Information)

To forestall the unfold of illness, specialists strongly encourage folks and their pets to:

• Keep away from consuming uncooked or undercooked meat merchandise
• Keep away from consuming uncooked dairy merchandise
• Restrict contact with sick or useless animals
• Wash your palms after dealing with uncooked animal merchandise or after coming into contact with sick or useless animals
• Report sick or useless birds to the ODA at 503-986-4711.
• Maintain pets or poultry removed from wild water birds

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Northwest Naturals didn’t instantly reply to FOX Enterprise’ request for remark.