Bird flu concerns prompt LA County officials to warn against feeding pets raw food

Los Angeles County health officials are warning against feeding raw food to pets after a brand found samples of the bird flu virus.

This comes a day after officials reported the first human case of bird flu to hit the area — which was less than a week after a statewide emergency was declared for the virus.

Northwest Naturals Brand 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe Raw & Frozen Pet Food was voluntarily recalled after finding samples of the virus in its products, according to officials, who note that a house cat in Oregon had died from consuming the recalled raw frozen pet food.

All raw dairy, meat and poultry products can contain bacteria, including bird flu, health authorities have warned. Consumption of raw milk and raw meat products should be avoided and the products should not be fed to pets, they added.

LA County health officials previously warned against feeding raw milk to cats after several became infected and died from consuming recalled raw milk.

The county Department of Public Health said in a statement Monday that the human case of H5 bird flu was discovered in an adult who was exposed to livestock infected with the virus at a workplace.

The unnamed adult had mild symptoms, has been treated with antivirals and was recovering at home, according to the agency.

“The overall risk of H5 bird flu to the public remains low,” health officials said.

There are at least 65 confirmed human cases of bird flu nationally — with at least 36 in California, according to the CDC.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on December 18 when bird flu cases were discovered in dairy cows on farms in Southern California. The virus had previously been detected in the state’s Central Valley.

“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure that government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak,” Newsom said in a statement last week.

Symptoms of bird flu in humans include eye redness or discharge, fever, cough or difficulty breathing, sore throat, muscle or body aches, diarrhea and vomiting, according to health officials.

People who work with infected animals, including cows, poultry or wildlife, remain at greater risk of exposure to the virus.

“People rarely get bird flu, but those who interact with infected livestock or wildlife are at greater risk of infection. This case reminds us to take basic precautions to prevent exposure,” LA County Health Officer Muntu Davis, MD, MPH , said in the statement Monday.

“People should avoid unprotected contact with sick or dead animals, including cows, poultry and wild birds; avoid consuming raw or undercooked animal products, such as raw milk; and protect backyard pets and poultry from exposure to wild animals,” added Davis.

The health authority also recommended getting the seasonal flu vaccine “which can help prevent severe seasonal flu illness and reduce the risk of getting both seasonal and avian flu infections at the same time if exposed.”