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This week, three cats from a single household in Clackamas County were found to be infected with avian influenza, marking the latest case of bird flu in Oregon within the last two months, as confirmed by state officials on Tuesday.
Since December, a total of seven cats in the Portland area have tested positive for this viral infection, which includes two cases each from Washington County and Multnomah County. Tragically, at least four of these cats have been euthanized due to severe symptoms, according to information released by the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
Most of these infections have been linked to cats consuming raw pet food, as reported by Ryan Scholz, the state veterinarian. While avian flu primarily affects poultry, it can also be transmitted to other animals through direct contact with sick birds or by eating contaminated raw meat or dairy products.
A representative from the Oregon Department of Agriculture was unable to confirm whether the three infected cats from Clackamas County had eaten raw pet food prior to their diagnosis.
Avian influenza can result in severe and potentially fatal health issues, with common symptoms including fever, breathing difficulties, loss of appetite, and nasal or ocular discharge. Although dogs can also contract this disease, they are considered less susceptible, according to state officials.
On Tuesday, DoveLewis veterinary hospital in Portland announced that they treated two cats positive for bird flu; unfortunately, one had to be euthanized while the other was able to recover, a spokesperson shared in a press release. It is yet unclear whether these cases are included in the state’s current infection count.
Scholz anticipates an increase in reported infections among cats. The state agency is intensifying its testing protocols to better understand how the virus affects various animal species.
“We are conducting extensive testing on different animals,” Scholz explained. “There haven’t been any confirmed cases in dogs, but it’s a possibility, so we are broadening our testing scope.”
The state agency advises pet owners against feeding their animals raw meat or dairy products. Additionally, they recommend preventing pets from interacting with wild birds or poultry and emphasize the importance of washing hands after handling raw animal products or being near dead wildlife.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture has issued a public health alert concerning potential risks related to products from Wild Coast Raw, an Olympia-based company, noting that at least two infections in Oregon were linked to this particular product.
Prior to this surge of infections, only two cases of bird flu in cats were documented in Oregon, both of which occurred in Linn County in 2022, as stated by agency spokesperson Andrea Cantu-Schomus.
In very rare situations, humans can contract avian influenza. However, there have been no recorded human infections in Oregon linked to exposure from an infected cat, according to the agency.
– Carlos Fuentes writes about state politics and governmental issues. Contact him at 503-221-5386 or cfuentes@oregonian.com.
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