The Oregon Department of Health has confirmed a fatal case of H5N1 avian influenza in an indoor cat from Washington County, linked to Morasch Meat’s “Northwest Naturals” brand turkey raw & frozen pet food. Additional cases tied to raw diets have surfaced in other states, including the deaths of 20 big cats at a sanctuary in Washington. Due to the risk to both pets and humans, please be aware of this disease and take steps to prevent exposure.
What You Need to Know:
H5N1 is a strain of “bird flu” (also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI) currently circulating in the United States. While it mainly affects both domestic and wild birds, it has also been found in mammals including humans and cats.
What To Look For:
Cats: Cats are particularly vulnerable to H5N1 and can develop severe illness including fever, lethargy, trouble breathing, and neurological signs (e.g., seizures). Twenty big cats at a sanctuary in Washington have died from the virus. Most recently, an indoor-only domestic cat in Oregon who was fed a contaminated raw-meat diet died, which highlights the serious risk that raw food can present to our pets.
Dogs: Dogs have a lower, but still possible, risk of H5N1 infection. Most cases in dogs have been linked to direct exposure to infected birds or raw food diets. Symptoms can include respiratory signs, lethargy, and fever.
Birds: Birds that are housed outdoors have a higher risk of developing H5N1 due to the increased chance of exposure from wild birds. Visit the USDA Defend the Flock page for recommendations on how to keep your birds healthy.
Ferrets: Ferrets are highly susceptible to influenza infection, and can contract infection from contact with humans. Raw food diets pose a serious health risk to ferrets due to the potential for contamination.
Humans: H5N1 is zoonotic, which means that it can also infect humans as well as animals. There have been over 60 cases of H5N1 in humans since April 2024. Handling contaminated raw pet food can pose risks to humans, as can contact with infected pets or wildlife.
Is H5N1 in Pennsylvania?
There have been confirmed cases of H5N1 in domestic poultry as well as wild avian species in Pennsylvania. There are currently no cases in dairy cattle in Pennsylvania.
There have been several confirmed cases of H5N1 in red foxes (as of 2/24/2025) in Lehigh and Huntingdon Counties, but no confirmed cases in feline species.
USDA Detections of HPAI in Wild and Captive Wild Mammals as of 2/24/25:
How To Stay Safe:
- Avoid Raw Food: Feed only cooked or commercially processed pet foods. Avoid feeding raw diets and raw (unpasteurized) milk.
- Monitor Pets: Watch for signs of illness (fever, lethargy, respiratory issues, neurological symptoms) and contact your veterinarian immediately if these occur.
- Practice Safe Handling: Use gloves when handling raw diets and wash hands thoroughly when handling pet food.
- Stay Informed: Follow recall alerts and dispose of recalled products properly. Discuss diet and disease prevention with your veterinarian.
For more information, consult your veterinarian or visit a trusted health resources like the USDA’s website below. Let’s keep our pets safe and healthy!