Human risk of contracting bird flu is very low, says the CDC
Those most at risk of contracting bird flu are people in close contact with infected animals, such as dairy or poultry workers.
Manufacturers of raw dog and cat food must do a better job detecting bird flu in products sold to pet owners, federal regulators announced Friday.
Several cats, wild and domestic, in the U.S. have contracted H5N1 avian influenza and died from eating raw food contaminated with bird flu. Raw foods include unpasteurized milk, uncooked meat or unpasteurized eggs. The raw pet food industry has grown rapidly despite recalls and health warnings, according to reporting.
Pasteurization, the established process of heat treatment, can inactivate viruses, including H5N1 and other pathogens in food.
Under the Food and Drug Administration’s update Friday, officials said regulated cat and dog food manufacturers who sell uncooked or unpasteurized products must reanalyze food safety plans to include bird flu as a threat. The update is meant “to ensure that cat and dog food manufacturers are aware of information about the new H5N1 hazard associated with their pet food products,” FDA officials said.
A concern from pets getting sick with bird flu is that they can potentially infect people. Humans infected with bird flu have largely had mild infections, with no spread between others.
Research suggests cats, who can carry bird flu and human influenza viruses, can serve as mixing vessels that would allow the bird flu virus to mutate and become more likely to infect people. In some cases it could even cause more severe disease.
Cats especially can have severe illness and death from bird flu. In Washington, 20 wild cats died at an animal sanctuary from raw food. Domestic cats have died in California, Colorado and Oregon from their owners giving them raw meat or milk products that were subsequently recalled.
Dogs can also contract H5N1, though no cases have been identified in the U.S. so far.
Under an FDA rule, certain animal food companies must have a food safety plan identifying and evaluating hazards for foods they manufacture, process, pack or hold at their facilities.
The rule requires regulated companies to re-analyze their food safety plans when FDA determines it’s necessary, which is the case with the known transmission with bird flu for raw food products.
FDA encouraged pet food manufacturers and others in supply chains to use practices to “significantly minimize or prevent” bird flu transmission via animal food, including with pasteurization. Companies should obtain meat, milk or eggs from flocks or herds that are healthy.
