Overview

• The H5N1 bird flu outbreak has infected 15 million poultry in the past month, with over 140 million birds culled or infected since 2022, leading to rising egg prices.
• Human cases remain rare, with 67 reported in the U.S. since April 2024, including one fatality in Louisiana, though there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
• Domestic cats are highly susceptible to the virus, with cases linked to contact with infected birds, raw pet food, and unpasteurized dairy; mortality rates in cats can reach 67%.
• The FDA has issued advisories for pet food manufacturers to revise safety plans and warned against feeding pets raw or unpasteurized products to prevent infection.
• Pasteurized milk and properly cooked poultry and eggs are considered safe for human consumption, but the outbreak continues to disrupt food supply chains.