Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat urine tested positive for deadly bird flu after drinking raw milk
By Frye, Elisha A et al.·Published in Emerging infectious diseases·2025·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Isolation of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus from Cat Urine after Raw Milk Ingestion, United States.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Three domestic cats in California became ill after drinking raw milk that was contaminated with a dangerous strain of avian influenza (H5N1). They showed symptoms like fever and neurological issues, and sadly, two of the cats died. The surviving cat's urine tested positive for the virus. This situation highlights the health risks associated with feeding pets raw dairy products.
People also search for: cat fever after drinking raw milk · cat neurological signs H5N1 · avian influenza in cats symptoms
Abstract
In 2024, 3 domestic cats in California, USA consumed raw milk contaminated with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus. Fever and neurologic signs developed; 2 cats died. The surviving cat's urine tested positive for H5N1 virus by reverse transcription PCR. Raw dairy products pose a risk to both animal and human health.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40669840/