SAN FRANCISCO − Authorities euthanized a cat in San Francisco after it ate raw pet food and contracted the bird flu, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced. Some batches ofRAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eatshave tested positive for the presence of the H5N1 avian influenza virus, according to the FDA. The agency did not specify the quantity or manufacturing dates.The notice, issued on Wednesday, Sept. 3, comes on the heels of laboratory testing that showed the H5N1 virus in both the cat and the food. The decision to euthanize the animal came after theSan Francisco Department of Public Healthwas informed that the cat ate the affected product and contracted the virus, the agency reported. The virus causes illness and sometimes death in some animals, including both domestic and wild cats, such as mountain lions and bobcats, according to the FDA. Dogs may also contract it, but usually exhibit mild clinical signs and low death rates compared to felines, the agency wrote. To date, no human H5N1 infections have been identified among people handling raw pet food products, the FDA said. Humans can become infected if the active virus gets into their eyes, nose, or mouth, according to the notice. "It is important for people to wash their hands after handling any pet food products and sanitize contact surfaces," the FDA warns. Raw milk sickens 21:The group, which included children, fell ill in Florida after consuming it The recalled cat food was sold in 2.5-pound resealable yellow and white bags with black lettering, each containing 40 one-ounce sliders. Compromised cat food, per the FDA, includes: Lot CCS 25 077, with a sell-by date of Sept. 18, 2026 Lot CCS 25 093, with a sell-by date of Oct. 03, 2026 The food is sold frozen in stores nationwide and online. Bird flu is a disease caused by a family of flu viruses that are primarily transmitted among birds. Avian influenza viruses, according to the CDC and USDA, are classified into two groups: low-pathogenic avian influenza (often seen in wild birds)and highly pathogenic avian influenza (found mostly in domestic poultry). According to the CDC, low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses can cause mild or no disease, and highly pathogenic avian influenza can cause severe disease and high mortality rates in infected birds. A bird flu outbreak that began in February 2022 cost the U.S. government roughly $661 million by February 2023, theAssociated Press reported at the time.Tens of millions of birds were slaughteredto limit the spread of the virus, according to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The FDA was urging pet owners to check packaging, discard recalled products and monitor their pets for illness. According to the FDA, the virus had not been detected in dogs in the United States as of Sept. 3. However, the agency added that there have been fatal cases in other countries. To see alist of animalsthat tested positive for the virus, people can visit theU.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Servicewebsite. Despite reports of both animals andpeople contracting bird flu across the United States, the risk to the public remains low, according tothe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although there are a few exceptions. According to the CDC, the federal agency said it is "watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures." The CDC reported it is also using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5 bird flu activity in humans. How do you get the bird flu?What medical experts want you to know right now Animals that are young, old or with weak immune systems are especially at risk of contracting the virus, the FDA said. According to theAmerican Veterinary Medical Association, people should seek veterinary care if their pet exhibits the following: A fever Lethargy Loss of appetite Red or inflamed eyes Eye or nose discharge Difficulty breathing Neurologic signs, including tremors, seizures, poor coordination, or blindness Florida lawsuit:Woman sues dairy farm claiming raw milk caused death of fetus Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Cat euthanized after contracting bird flu from recalled pet food
