Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1), commonly known as ⁢H5 ‍bird flu, has ⁢been‍ confirmed in a ⁣domestic cat in ⁣Los Angeles County. This is the first reported case‍ in a⁤ cat since a cluster of ⁤infections between December ​2024 and ⁣January 2025, according to ⁢the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Recent ​Case Details

Two indoor-only cats from the same household became acutely ill and⁣ died after consuming commercially available⁤ raw pet food. One of the ‌cats tested ‍positive for the ⁣H5N1 virus (clade 2.3.4.4b genotype B3.13). Testing was not performed on the ⁣second cat.

the previous cluster of cases ⁣in december 2024-January 2025 involved⁤ nine confirmed and ten suspected infections linked to the ‌consumption of raw milk, raw pet food, and raw meat.