Pelican State News

On January 24, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry reported a case of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a feral domestic cat located in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The virus is known to affect various animals, including cats, dogs, and some small pets.

The ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has resulted in numerous infections among domestic cats—both pet and feral—with severe illness or death as possible outcomes. Transmission can occur through direct contact with infected birds or their environments, as well as by consuming contaminated raw meat or unpasteurized milk.

For more details on HPAI detections in mammals across the United States, refer to the USDA's Detections of HPAI in Mammals webpage.

Infected animals may experience mild to severe symptoms, potentially leading to death. Due to overlapping clinical signs with other respiratory or neurological diseases, HPAI should be considered when risk factors are present. Such factors include exposure to sick poultry or wild waterfowl and consumption of raw animal products.

Preventative measures highlight that animals might contract avian influenza by ingesting infected birds or other animals like mice. Contaminated environments also pose a risk for transmission between animals. While mammal-to-mammal transmission is currently low-risk in most cases, ingestion remains a significant route of infection for mammals.

The disease often presents with acute neurological symptoms and encephalitis; however, severity varies based on exposure levels. Symptoms can range from mild to moderate if exposure is minimal.

Veterinarians are advised to consider HPAI when diagnosing encephalitis or acute respiratory distress without an apparent cause. Protective measures for clinic staff are crucial when handling suspected cases of HPAI; following CDC guidelines on high-risk personal protective equipment (PPE) is recommended.

Additional resources include:

- Louisiana Department of Health – Office of Public Health – Avian Influenza

- American Veterinary Medical Association – Avian Influenza in pets and backyard flocks

- US Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Detections in Mammals

- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Considerations for Veterinarians: Evaluating and Handling Cats Potentially Exposed to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus

- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Influenza in Animals

- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation