H5N1 virus traced to Oregon pet food

By Blake Jackson

A house cat in Oregon has died after consuming pet food that tested positive for bird flu, prompting a nationwide recall of raw frozen pet food, authorities reported. Northwest Naturals, a Portland-based pet food company, issued a voluntary recall for a batch of its two-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food, after it tested positive for the H5N1 virus. The product, sold in various U.S. states and British Columbia, was distributed through multiple retailers.

“We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food,” said the Oregon Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz. “This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not exposed to the virus in its environment, and results from the genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and infected cat were exact matches to each other.”

The affected product is packaged in two-pound plastic bags, with "best if used by" dates of May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. Authorities have advised consumers who purchased this product to dispose of it immediately and contact the store for a refund. Fortunately, no human cases of bird flu have been reported from this incident, though individuals who had contact with the infected cat are being monitored for flu-like symptoms.

While bird flu continues to spread among animals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed over 60 human infections across eight states, though most cases have been mild. One person in Louisiana was hospitalized due to severe illness, which marked the first known case of a serious infection in the U.S.

This follows the discovery of bird flu in a pig at an Oregon farm in late October, marking the first detection in U.S. swine. Oregon officials also reported a human case of bird flu linked to an outbreak at a poultry operation earlier in the year, with the individual fully recovering after mild symptoms.

The situation underscores the importance of awareness regarding pet food safety, particularly as bird flu continues to impact animal populations.

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