NEW YORK (WABC) — The New York Metropolis Well being Division is investigating after cats from two separate households had been contaminated with chicken flu.
One of many kittens contaminated with the chicken flu was an 8-month-old kitten on the Higher West Facet that consumed uncooked hen from Savage Cat, an organization that makes uncooked pet meals.
A veterinarian mentioned the kitten needed to be euthanized.
“We took swabs and submitted them to Cornell, we admitted the kitten to the hospital, continued all care, together with 24 hour oxygen and proceed to deteriorate, and sadly needed to put the kitten to sleep the subsequent day we acquired the constructive outcomes for the flu,” the vet mentioned.
Savage Cat issued a warning to their shoppers in February after a cat in Colorado had gotten sick with H5N1.
The corporate was notified of the sick cat on the finish of January. That cat has since then recovered.
Savage Cat notified their shoppers concerning correlations between its uncooked cat meals and the chicken flu. Preliminary testing of the uncooked cat meals was examined and returned “not damaging.”
Additional isolation testing is required and officers are nonetheless awaiting these outcomes. The corporate mentioned they’re working with the FDA and gathering info.
Well being consultants are advising New Yorkers to not feed pets uncooked meals or uncooked milk. Additionally they are offering pet homeowners to forestall their cats from roaming exterior the place they might come into contact with wild birds or different animals.
Some indicators to be careful for in cats embody cloudy or runny eyes, coughing, sneezing or problem respiration.
The present threat to New Yorkers of chicken flu stays low.
“Hen flu viruses current a wider threat to most people provided that the virus develops the flexibility to transmit between individuals – which we now have not seen,” Appearing Commissioner of the New York Metropolis Well being Division Dr. Michelle Morse mentioned.
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