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Two indoor cats in Michigan have died from bird flu (H5N1), raising concerns that they may have contracted the virus from their dairy worker owners, according to a CDC report.

The first case involved a 5-year-old cat that showed symptoms like lethargy and neurological issues before being euthanized. Testing confirmed it had the same strain of bird flu found in local dairy cattle. A second cat in the home also showed symptoms but recovered. The owner, a dairy worker, experienced vomiting and diarrhea before the cats became sick but declined testing.

A second case involved a 6-month-old cat from a different household. It developed severe neurological symptoms and died within 24 hours. Its owner, another dairy worker, frequently handled unpasteurized milk without protective equipment and reported “splash exposures” to the face and clothing. Their cat often rolled in their contaminated clothing, while another cat in the home, which did not, remained healthy. The worker also reported eye irritation before the cat’s illness but refused testing, fearing job loss.

The CDC urges farm workers to remove contaminated clothing before entering their homes and for veterinarians to wear protective gear when handling sick cats. Previous reports show cats on dairy farms have died from exposure to unpasteurized milk. While the risk of cat-to-human transmission is low, experts say prolonged exposure to infected animals could increase risks.

https://www.healio.com/news/infectious-disease/20250221/exclusively-indoor-cats-may-have-caught-bird-flu-from-their-owners

#cats #birdflu #cows #farmers #h5n1