Avian Bird Flu Outbreak Among House Cats Raises Alarms—Even J.D. Vance Can’t Ignore It
Cat owners have a new concern on their hands—aside from J.D. Vance—a deadly strain of avian bird flu is now spreading to house cats, according to researchers.
The virus, known as H5N1, has been wreaking havoc on American farm animals for the past 2.5 years, killing 100 million birds and impacting nearly 200 dairy herds. Now, it appears the virus has jumped to indoor cats.
While the numbers are still relatively small, with at least 21 cats infected according to a New York Times report, the real worry lies in how these cats are contracting the virus. One infected cat lived on a dairy farm, which is understandable.
However, two of the cases involved strictly indoor house cats with no known exposure to the virus or infected animals. Additionally, three other infected cats were known to hunt mice and birds—something that’s fairly common if your cat roams outside.
This unsettling news comes amid a heated political discourse, with childless cat owners recently becoming a focal point, thanks to comments from Donald Trump’s running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, who suggested that demographic has little stake in America’s future. Even Oprah Winfrey responded to Vance’s remarks during her DNC speech earlier this week.
Politics aside, the scientific community is concerned that the bird flu’s jump to house cats could potentially pave the way for human infections. While UC Davis researchers have confirmed that at least 13 farm workers have contracted the virus, cases in humans have been mild so far.
However, the fatality rate among cats has been a staggering 67%. Kristen Coleman, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, strongly advises keeping cats indoors, particularly if they could be exposed to birds, mice, or—on a lighter note—J.D. Vance while outside.