Overview

• A University of Maryland–led One Health case series describes four house cats near Tulare, California, infected last fall with H5N1, with two deaths and two recoveries after immediate oseltamivir treatment.
• Treating veterinarian Dr. Jake Gomez says early recognition and swift antiviral use were critical to the surviving cats’ outcomes.
• Lead researcher Dr. Kristen K. Coleman reports the recovered cats regained full health and appeared protected from reinfection for several months.
• Owners are advised to show veterinarians the study and request empirical oseltamivir if bird flu is suspected in a cat.
• The virus can spread quickly through pets and poses potential risks to households and veterinary staff, and a separate recent report noted a California cat euthanized after eating raw pet food.