26th December 2024 – (Los Angeles) Los Angeles County health officials have issued a strong warning to pet owners regarding the Northwest Naturals Brand 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe Raw & Frozen Pet Food. This advisory comes in the wake of a tragic incident in Oregon, where a house cat succumbed to an H5N1 bird flu infection after consuming the recalled product, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The affected pet food is available for sale in California and can also be ordered online through the brand’s website. Laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus in samples of the product. The food is packaged in 2-pound plastic bags, marked with “best if used by” dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1. Health officials are urging anyone in possession of this food to dispose of it immediately.
Pet owners are also advised to monitor their cats for any signs of illness, particularly if they have fed them raw meat or dairy products. Symptoms to watch for include listlessness, loss of appetite, severe depression, fever, difficulty breathing, neurological issues, respiratory and gastrointestinal distress, jaundice, and, in severe cases, death. Immediate veterinary attention is recommended if any of these symptoms arise.
In a related development, the Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Washington State reported that twenty big cats, including a half-Bengal tiger and four cougars, died between late November and mid-December due to bird flu infections. Mark Mathews, the centre’s founder, remarked, “We’ve never had anything like it; they usually die basically of old age. Not something like this; it’s a pretty wicked virus.”
While three other cats have recovered, one remains in critical condition. The sanctuary is currently under quarantine, with operations suspended until further notice to allow for thorough sanitisation of the habitats. The situation began to emerge in November, primarily affecting the cougar population, which exhibited pneumonia-like symptoms before other species followed suit, according to reports from The New York Times.
