San Francisco cat is euthanized after eating pet food tainted with bird flu

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning on Wednesday after the San Francisco Department of Public Health reported a cat became sick with H5N1 bird flu after eating RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats brand raw cat food. The pet cat was euthanized after becoming ill. FDA officials then tested the cat's food and found it was contaminated with H5N1 bird flu virus. Two other retail samples of the food were tested, and one of these samples tested positive for bird flu."

"Despite its name, bird flu can affect humans and other animals, including cats and dogs. Since 2024, when H5N1 started to be detected in dairy cows in the U.S., at least 70 people in the U.S. have developed the illness and one person has died, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that "dozens of cats" (both domestic and wild) have developed H5N1 since 2024."

A San Francisco cat was euthanized after contracting H5N1 bird flu following consumption of RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats raw cat food. FDA testing found the brand's food contaminated with H5N1, and one of two additional retail samples tested positive. H5N1 can infect humans and other animals; since 2024 at least 70 people in the U.S. have developed the illness and one person has died. The American Veterinary Medical Association reports dozens of domestic and wild cats have developed H5N1 since 2024. Cat-to-human transmission is considered low, but handling contaminated raw food can infect people. RAWR's founder disputed the FDA findings and said the company removed the implicated lots and complied with risk-minimization requirements.

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