Feb 21,(V7N) - A new study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), published Thursday, suggests that humans can transmit bird flu to their pet cats, often with deadly consequences.

The report, featured in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly, analyzed two cases from Michigan in May 2024. The findings add to growing concerns that the virus could mutate into a strain capable of causing a human pandemic.

Both cases involved pet owners who worked near dairy farms affected by bird flu. In the first case, a five-year-old indoor female cat quickly developed severe symptoms, including appetite loss, disorientation, and neurological decline. Despite emergency care, her condition deteriorated, and she was euthanized within four days. Postmortem testing confirmed she had bird flu.

Two other cats in the household showed milder symptoms, though their owners stopped communicating with public health officials. While one farm worker refused testing, three other household members tested negative.

A few days later, a six-month-old male Maine Coon was brought to Michigan State University’s veterinary center with severe lethargy, facial swelling, and movement issues. He died within 24 hours. Unlike his housemate, who remained unaffected, this cat had frequent contact with his owner's contaminated work clothes.

The Maine Coon’s owner regularly transported raw milk from multiple farms, including those with infected cattle. The owner frequently handled unpasteurized milk without protective gear and reported getting splashed on the face and clothes.

The CDC urged farmworkers to remove contaminated clothing and rinse off before entering their homes, highlighting raw milk as a potential transmission route.

Since the US bird flu outbreak began in 2024, 69 human cases have been reported, though experts suspect the actual number is much higher due to limited testing among farmworkers. One person has died.

As the virus spreads among birds and mammals, scientists warn it could mix with seasonal flu strains, potentially evolving into one that spreads easily among humans.

Meanwhile, newly appointed US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has raised eyebrows with his stance on infectious disease research. He has long questioned whether germs cause illness, opposed vaccines—seen as crucial in containing a potential pandemic—and promoted raw milk consumption, despite its known role in transmitting bird flu.

END/WD/RH/