CDC Issues Warning After Bird Flu Contaminated Raw Milk Causes Death of Texas Cats on Dairy Farm

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning over a bird flu case after half of 24 cats on a Texas dairy farm died from consuming raw milk from birds affected with the virus. The cats drank unpasteurized milk and colostrum from infected cows and developed a systemic influenza infection, showing signs of illness and neurological effects. The CDC report suggests that bird flu can cause illness due to ingestion, underlining the importance of exclusively consuming pasteurized milk. The process of pasteurization, required for all commercially sold milk, kills pathogens ensuring safety for consumption. The FDA has reiterated its recommendation against consuming raw milk and advised companies against selling products made from raw milk from cows exposed to bird flu. While only one human case of the virus has been confirmed so far, companies are urged to discard milk from affected cows carefully, to avoid further spread of the virus.

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