The primary case of the chook flu in a New Jersey cat was confirmed Friday by public well being officers, who mentioned the feline needed to be humanely euthanized.
A feral cat in Hunterdon County was discovered to have a case of H5 Extremely Pathogenic Avian Flu — generally referred to as “bird flu” — by the US Division of Agriculture Nationwide Veterinary Service, the New Jersey Division of Well being mentioned in a press launch.
The cat developed “severe disease,” expressing indicators of compromised neurology, and was euthanized, the well being division mentioned.
An investigation is underway into how the cat contracted the virus, however officers say they think the animal was contaminated by means of contact with wild birds.
Fowl flu is usually lethal for cats, who’re additionally identified to contract the virus by means of consumption of contaminated uncooked milk or meat, or by means of contact with contaminated clothes.
The virus has been plaguing farms throughout the US — with over 166 million birds affected by this spherical of the illness since its onset in 2022, in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
“The H5N1 virus has the ability to move from one species to another,” Ed Wengryn, New Jersey Agriculture Secretary mentioned. “That is why we have worked closely with our poultry and dairy industries on biosecurity measures to prevent exposure by wild animals, and feral cats are another example of the risks to livestock and humans.”
Avian flu is presently a really low public well being menace to human beings in New Jersey, although an outbreak has been plaguing American farms.
At the least 657 counties have been affected by over 1,600 outbreaks of the virus that infects wild aquatic birds, industrial poultry, and yard farming hobbyists, in keeping with knowledge from the CDC.
There have been reported outbreaks in Bergen, Monmouth, Ocean, Union and Warren counties within the Backyard State since 2022 — with the biggest outbreak reported earlier this week at a reside chook market in Union.
Cows have additionally been affected, with 976 dairy herds confirmed to have contracted the illness since 2022.
