Wild Coast Raw chicken pet food is being recalled for possible bird flu contamination. Cats have been diagnosed with the same strain of H5N1 after eating this product. Sampling by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Oregon State Department of Agriculture found the virus in the product. The recalling firm is West Coast LLC doing business as West Coast Raw of Olympia, Washington. The recalled product was sold in Washington state and Oregon. The recalled item is 16 ounce and 24 ounce containers of frozen Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula raw pet food. It is frozen in a small round white plastic container with a green label. The state of Oregon issued a recall about 17 days ago, but more information is available about the product now. The lot numbers that are … [Read more...]
Minnesota Starts Testing Raw Cow Milk for H5N1 Bird Flu
Minnesota is starting to test raw cow milk for H5N1 bird flu, according to a press release from the Minnesota Department of of Agriculture (MDA). The testing will start beginning the week of February 24, 2025. This is intended to identify where the virus is present, to monitor trends, and prevent its spread to dairy herds and poultry flocks around the state. MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen said in a statement, "H5N1 is an emerging disease in dairy cattle, and conducting disease surveillance supports the state’s ability to effectively respond to outbreaks and limit the potential impact on the livestock and poultry industries, as well as on public health." The notice stated that there are no concerns about the safety of the public milk supply, since all milk sold in stores to the … [Read more...]
Wild Coast Raw Pet Food Recalled For Bird Flu Virus
Wild Coast Raw Pet Food is being recalled because it may be contaminated with the H5N1 bird flu virus, according to the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). The recall has been issued because indoor cats in Oregon got sick with the virus beginning in early February. The owners of the cats had to euthanize their pets because the illnesses were so severe. After health department officials investigated, they found that the cats had all consumed the same brand of pet food: Wild Coast Raw. The Oregon Department of Agriculture collected samples from the affected cats pre- and post-mortem, and from open containers of the raw pet food. Tests conducted by the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (ODVL) at Oregon State University and the National Veterinary Services … [Read more...]
FDA Requires Pet Food Manufacturers to Add Bird Flu to Plans
The FDA is requiring that pet food manufacturers must add bird flu to their food safety plans after the virus was found in some raw products. This applies to all manufacturers of cat and dog foods that are covered by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Preventive Controls for Animal Food and that use uncooked meat, unpasteurized milk, or unpasteurized eggs in their products. The FDA is issuing this update to make sure that these manufacturers are aware of information about the new H5N1 hazard that is associated with these types of products. The FDA is tracking cases of H5N1 in domestic and wild cats in the states of California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington that are associated with eating contaminated food products. At this time, the H5N1 virus can be transmitted to cats and … [Read more...]
First Human Bird Flu Death Reported in Louisiana
The CDC says that the first human bird flu death has been reported in Louisiana. There are 66 confirmed human cases of the H5N1 virus so far in the United States as of January 6, 2025. The person who died was over the age of 65 and had underlying medical conditions, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. That person had contact with non-commercial backyard flocks and wild birds. This virus can cause severe illness and death, however, this is the first person who has died from an H5 infection in this country. In other countries, more than 950 cases of human bird flu infections have been reported to the World Health Organization. About half of those people have died. The CDC is assessing the risk to the general public and states that it remains low. No person to person … [Read more...]
Symptoms of Bird Flu in Humans and Domestic Pets
The bird flu outbreak has killed millions of wild birds and domestic poultry. The virus has spread to dairy cows, cats, dogs, goat kids, bears, foxes, seals, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, mice, rabbits, minks, and other wild animals, as well as humans. Avoiding contact with sick animals is the first measure of prevention. But you should also know the symptoms of bird flu in humans to protect yourself and your family. The CDC has released details of symptoms of bird flu in humans. Symptoms usually begin two to seven days after exposure to a sick animal; the average is three days. The first symptoms usually include eye irritation and redness. Some people may have a mild fever, cough, and sore throat. A runny nose or stuffy nose, headaches, fatigue , and muscle of body aches … [Read more...]
FDA Starts Sampling Raw Milk Aged Cheese For H5N1 Bird Flu
The FDA has started sampling raw milk aged cheese for possible H5N1 bird flu contamination, given that dairy cows have tested positive for the virus. This testing will determine whether viable H5N1 virus is present in the cheese, and whether the FDA will need to take follow up actions to address this issue. An outbreak of H5N1 in many states triggered this assignment. The FDA is working with the USDA, the CDC, and state partners to investigate and respond to this outbreak. So far, wild birds, domesticated poultry, dairy cows, cats, and people have been sickened by this virus. Raw milk cheese is made with unpasteurized milk. This cheese must be aged for a minimum of 60 days to mitigate the risk from pathogens. Raw Farm raw milk has been recalled in California for possible bird flu … [Read more...]
LA County Warns Against Feeding Monarch Raw Pet Food
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is warning the public to not feed their pets Monarch Raw Pet Food after the bird flu virus was found in the product. The food was sold at several farmers markets in California. You can see a list of the farmers markets where the pet food was sold at the Monarch web site. There is no mention of this issue on the Monarch site. A house cat that ate the food has been confirmed sick with the H5 bird flu. Four other house cats from the same household are presumed to be positive for the virus after eating this product. Public health officials found the virus in product samples. Cats infected with H5 bird flu can develop severe illness that may include neurologic signs, respiratory signs, or liver disease that can rapidly progress to … [Read more...]
Northwest Naturals Raw Frozen Pet Food Recalled For Bird Flu
Northwest Naturals Raw Frozen Pet Food is being recalled for possible bird flu contamination. One case of a domestic cat illness has been reported to the company to date in connection with the consumption of this product. The recalling firm is Northwest Naturals of Portland, Oregon. The recalled product is Northwest Naturals brand Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food that is packaged in 2 pound containers. The product tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influence (HPAI) virus. The best by dates for this item are 5/21/26 B10 and 6/23/26 B1. The food was sold through distributors in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington in the United States. It was also sold in … [Read more...]
Raw Pet Food May Be Contaminated With the Bird Flu Virus
The County of Los Angeles Public Health is warning the public to not feed their cats and dogs raw pet food because it may be contaminated with the bird flu virus. Northwest Naturals raw frozen pet food is contaminated with the H5N1 virus and is being recalled. The product has been recalled. It is Northwest Naturals Brand Feline Turkey Recipe Raw & Frozen Pet Food that is packaged 2-pound plastic bags with “Best if used by” dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1. Pet owners are urged to immediately dispose of the product. If your pet ate this product and is showing signs of illness, see your veterinarian immediately. Public Health recently confirmed H5 bird flu in four house cats that consumed recalled Raw Farm raw milk and became sick and died. Cats infected with H5 bird … [Read more...]
