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Recalled milk from Raw Farm LLC is sold in packaging like this. | Photo courtesy of the California Department of Public Health
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Local health officials on Wednesday announced San Bernardino County’s first confirmed case of H5N1 bird flu in a domestic cat.
According to the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, the cat was one of three felines that consumed recalled raw milk from Raw Farm LLC. Two of the cats have died, and the third was hospitalized, treated and has recovered.
The cats’ owner did not test positive for H5N1 bird flu, and currently there are no reported human cases of bird flu in the county, officials said. Also, no person-to-person spread of the virus has been detected in California.
“The cats were not under the care of county services at the time of medical treatment,” according to the health department.
“While the risk of H5N1 bird flu to the general public remains low, this case, found in a cat, serves as a reminder of the importance of avoiding raw milk and ensuring safe practices when handling food and interacting with animals or their environments,” San Bernardino County Health Officer Sharon Wang said in a statement.
Public Health officials reported that “markers of H5 avian influenza have been detected in wastewater” in Ontario and San Bernardino.
While there is no immediate cause for the public to be concerned, “the detection highlights the importance of wastewater monitoring as an early warning tool. It enables public health officials to implement preventative measures and coordinate responses to potential threats to human and animal health.”
The H5N1 virus has also been detected in Riverside County “and previously in San Bernardino County from different utilities,” officials said. While the findings do not indicate active human infections, they serve as an early warning apparatus for public health preparedness.
The California Department of Public Health has announced a voluntary recall of specific lots of raw milk produced Raw Farm LLC. Consumers were urged to return remaining products to the store where the items were purchased, and retailers have been instructed to remove the possibly virus-carrying products from shelves.
More information on bird flu is available online at cdph.ca.gov.
