Avian Flu Detected in Belgian Cats as Outbreaks Continue on US Poultry, Dairy Farms

By Lisa Schnirring

Belgian authorities last week reported the country’s first H5 avian flu detections in domestic cats, which lived on a poultry farm, and in the United States, more detections were confirmed in poultry and dairy cattle over the past few days.

First detection in Belgian cats; more in New Jersey

Belgium’s Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain on March 4 announced the detection of H5 avian flu in two outdoor cats owned by a poultry farmer in East Flanders. The farm had experienced an avian flu outbreak in poultry in the middle of February.

The two cats were euthanized after experiencing severe symptoms. Other cats at the farm remain healthy and show no symptoms.

Officials said the sick cats probably contracted the virus by eating contaminated eggs or drinking contaminated water. 

The infections in cats are Belgium’s first, though the country has reported avian flu in other mammal species before, including foxes, polecats, and domestic ferrets, which officials said were likely exposed through eating bird carcasses or contaminated eggs.

In the United States, health officials in New Jersey have reported four more H5 avian flu detections in domestic cats, all from the same household as two recent detections.  The earlier detections involved a feral cat and an indoor-outdoor cat, with results pending for others at the same property that were sick.

In a statement, Karen DeMarco, MPH, health officer for Hunterdon County, said the H5 risk to the general population remains low, but officials will continue to take proactive steps to educate those who are at increased risk such as farm workers. 

“Health department staff are conducting daily symptom monitoring with all individuals who had close contact with the affected animals, and all are asymptomatic at this time,” she said.

More confirmations in US poultry and dairy cattle

Over the past week, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed more H5N1 detections in poultry across six states.

The virus struck more commercial farms, including a duck and layer facilities in Indiana and turkey facilities in Ohio. In New York, birds at four live markets tested positive, including those in Queens, Bronx, and Richmond counties.

More detections in backyard poultry flocks were reported from Oregon, Illinois, and Michigan.

Since outbreaks in US poultry began early 2022, the virus has led to the loss of more than 166 million birds across all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Also today, APHIS confirmed 5 more H5N1 detections in US dairy cattle, all from California, raising the national total to 983 and California’s total to 754.