The primary case of the chook flu in a New Jersey cat was confirmed Friday by public well being officers, who mentioned the feline needed to be humanely euthanized.
A feral cat in Hunterdon County was discovered to have a case of H5 Extremely Pathogenic Avian Flu — generally known as “chook flu” — by america Division of Agriculture Nationwide Veterinary Service, the New Jersey Division of Well being mentioned in a press launch.
The cat developed “extreme illness,” expressing indicators of compromised neurology, and was euthanized, the well being division mentioned.
An investigation is underway into how the cat contracted the virus, however officers say they think the animal was contaminated by contact with wild birds.
Fowl flu is usually lethal for cats, who’re additionally identified to contract the virus by consumption of contaminated uncooked milk or meat, or by contact with contaminated clothes.
The virus has been plaguing farms throughout the US — with over 166 million birds affected by this spherical of the illness since its onset in 2022, in accordance with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
“The H5N1 virus has the power to maneuver from one species to a different,” Ed Wengryn, New Jersey Agriculture Secretary mentioned. “That’s the reason we’ve labored carefully with our poultry and dairy industries on biosecurity measures to forestall publicity by wild animals, and feral cats are one other instance of the dangers to livestock and people.”
Avian flu is presently a really low public well being risk to human beings in New Jersey, although an outbreak has been plaguing American farms.
Not less than 657 counties have been affected by over 1,600 outbreaks of the virus that infects wild aquatic birds, industrial poultry, and yard farming hobbyists, in accordance with knowledge from the CDC.
There have been reported outbreaks in Bergen, Monmouth, Ocean, Union and Warren counties within the Backyard State since 2022 — with the largest outbreak reported earlier this week at a stay chook market in Union.
Cows have additionally been affected, with 976 dairy herds confirmed to have contracted the illness since 2022.
