The first case of the bird flu in a New Jersey cat was confirmed Friday by public health officials, who said the feline had to be humanely euthanized.
A feral cat in Hunterdon County was found to have a case of H5 Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu — commonly called “bird flu” — by the United States Department of Agriculture National Veterinary Service, the New Jersey Department of Health said in a press release.
The cat developed “severe disease,” expressing signs of compromised neurology, and was euthanized, the health department said.
An investigation is underway into how the cat contracted the virus, but officials say they suspect the animal was infected through contact with wild birds.
Bird flu is often deadly for cats, who are also known to contract the virus through consumption of contaminated raw milk or meat, or through contact with infected clothing.
The virus has been plaguing farms across the US — with over 166 million birds affected by this round of the sickness since its onset in 2022, according to the Center for Disease Control.
“The H5N1 virus has the ability to move from one species to another,” Ed Wengryn, New Jersey Agriculture Secretary said. “That is why we have worked closely with our poultry and dairy industries on biosecurity measures to prevent exposure by wild animals, and feral cats are another example of the risks to livestock and humans.”
Avian flu is currently a very low public health threat to human beings in New Jersey, though an outbreak has been plaguing American farms.
At least 657 counties have been affected by over 1,600 outbreaks of the virus that infects wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry, and backyard farming hobbyists, according to data from the CDC.
There have been reported outbreaks in Bergen, Monmouth, Ocean, Union and Warren counties in the Garden State since 2022 — with the largest outbreak reported earlier this week at a live bird market in Union.
Cows have also been affected, with 976 dairy herds confirmed to have contracted the disease since 2022.
