(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.: Dec. 23, 2024) - The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (SBCPHD) has confirmed two cases of H5 bird flu in domesticated cats from two different households. After testing positive for influenza A, a rare occurrence in felines, the infected cats developed severe neurological illness and sadly succumbed to the virus. The sources of infection are still under investigation by SBCPHD.
Currently, there is no evidence of local cat-to-cat, cat-to-human or human-to-human spread of H5 bird flu, and the risk to the general public continues to be low. However, people who come into close contact with wild birds and their feces, infected cats, infected poultry, or with infected dairy cattle or their milk, have a higher level of risk of exposure. It is important to take proper precautions as listed below.
Cats may be exposed to H5 bird flu by consuming infected birds or other animals, being in environments contaminated with the virus, and consuming unpasteurized milk from infected cows. Cats infected with H5 bird flu may develop severe illness that can include fever and neurologic symptoms, and that can rapidly progress to death. While transmission of the H5 bird flu virus from mammal to mammal can occur, there have been no known cases to date of H5 bird flu transmitted from cats to humans from this nationwide H5 bird flu outbreak.
Best Practices to Reduce Risk for You and Your Pets
While the current risk of transmission of H5 bird flu to Santa Barbara County residents and pets remains low, the Public Health Department encourages these best practices:
Avoid raw dairy and undercooked meat products: Do not drink raw milk or eat:
For any questions regarding symptoms or potential exposure, please call the Santa Barbara Public Health Department Disease Control 24/7 phone line at 805-681-5280 and [email protected].
Additional Resources
To report a sick or dead animal that may have H5N1, you can contact the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) or the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA):
CDC H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation:
https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html