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Northwest Naturals 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe Raw & Frozen Pet Food has been recalled following bird flu concerns. | Photo courtesy of Northwest Naturals
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Los Angeles County health officials have confirmed H5 bird flu in two additional pet foods and have urged the public to not feed their animals the products that contain infected raw milk.
Monarch Raw Pet Food is sold at farmers’ markets in the Riverside and Orange counties, according to manufacturer’s website. County health officials indicated the tainted product may be sold elsewhere in the state.
A house cat that consumed the Monarch food was confirmed positive for bird flu, according to the LA County Department of Public Health on Tuesday. Four other felines from the same household were presumed to also be infected.
People who fed their pets Monarch Raw Pet Food or other raw meat or dairy products, then notice their pet is experiencing symptoms should immediately contact a veterinarian.
“Residents should avoid consumption of all raw milk and raw meat products and not feed these to their pets,” according to a Public Health statement.
The manufacturer provides a list of farmers market locations where the product at monarchrawpetfood.com/where-to-buy.
On Dec. 24, another bird flu detection in product samples prompted county health officials to caution residents against feeding their pets raw food after a voluntary recall of Northwest Naturals Brand 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe Raw & Frozen Pet Food.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture reported that a house cat became ill from H5 bird flu and died after consuming that recalled raw frozen pet food, officials said. The potentially tainted products are also sold in California — a list of retailers is at nw-naturals.net/12-24-24-voluntary-product- recall/.
Public Health also recently confirmed the H5 virus in four house cats from a separate household that consumed recalled raw milk, then became ill and died. That incident is an ongoing investigation.
Cats infected with bird flu can become severely ill and display symptoms such as neurological signs, trouble breathing or liver disease that can swiftly lead to death, officials said.
The health department has not identified human cases of bird flu associated with exposure to cats, and the overall risk of bird flu to the public remains low, officials said. Currently there is no evidence of human-to-human spread.
On Dec. 23, Public Health confirmed the county’s first case of bird flu in a human who was exposed to infected livestock at a worksite.
Residents with questions or who need assistance finding a nearby clinic or doctor may call the Public Health InfoLine, 833-540-0473.
More information on avian flu in animals is at publichealth.lacounty.gov/vet/HPAI.htm and H5 in humans at ph.lacounty.gov/acd/diseases/h5n1.htm.
