LOS ANGELES (NewsNation) — New research shows that the highly contagious bird flu, found in the nation’s first severe human case, shows signs of a rare mutation, amid growing concern over pets contracting the disease.
A genetic analysis suggests the bird flu virus mutated inside a Louisiana patient who contracted the first severe case of the illness in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the finding this week.
Meanwhile, at least three house cat deaths linked to bird flu have been reported this month — two in Los Angeles County, California, and one in Oregon.
Health experts are urging pet owners to be cautious about raw foods and limit their pets’ exposure to wildlife.
Bird flu linked to cats’ deaths
In Oregon, health officials reported a house cat contracted H5N1 after eating Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food. The Portland-based company has issued a voluntary recall for the affected product.
Earlier this month, two house cats in L.A. County died after consuming raw milk linked to a statewide recall due to infected dairy herds.
Bird flu has been detected on farms in at least 16 states, with hundreds of herds now under quarantine.
In Washington state, 20 big cats, including a tiger, died from bird flu in just the past month, according to the facility’s director.
Experts advise watching for symptoms of bird flu in pets, including nasal or oral discharge, labored breathing, and neurological issues.
How concerned should Americans be?
While dozens of human cases have been reported in several states, including California, Oregon, and Washington, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over bird flu to allocate resources and focus on containment on farms.
The majority of bird flu cases in humans have occurred among farm workers exposed to poultry or cattle, with mild symptoms and full recovery. However, an elderly man in Louisiana remains hospitalized with the only severe case reported in the U.S.
Scientists believe the mutations may allow the virus to better bind to receptors in the upper airways of humans.
Michael Osterholm, a University of Minnesota infectious disease researcher, likened this to a lock and key. The virus needs a key that turns a lock to enter a cell. Though the virus may be changing to have a key that might work, Osterholm says it doesn’t mean the world is closer to seeing a readily transmitted virus between people.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
