NYC Officials Report Bird Flu Infections in 2 House Cats

March 15, 2025 TruthUSA

Health officials are currently investigating the infection of two cats from different households in New York City with the H5 avian influenza virus, which causes bird flu.

Dr. Michelle Morse, the Acting Commissioner of the New York City Health Department, stated that local, state, and federal animal health authorities, along with her department, are engaged in the investigation.

“Instances of bird flu in cats have been confirmed in other parts of the United States,” she remarked in a statement issued on March 14.

“Currently, the risk of bird flu to New Yorkers is low,” Morse added. “Bird flu viruses could pose a broader risk to the public only if the virus acquires the ability to spread between humans, which has yet to occur.”

Pet owners are urged to take steps to safeguard their animals.

“Pet owners should refrain from feeding their pets raw food or unpasteurized milk,” Morse advised. “Moreover, it’s important for cat owners to prevent their pets from wandering outdoors, where they might encounter wild birds or other animals.”

These recent cases follow reports of infected cats in nearby New Jersey.

A press release from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene dated March 6 noted that two house cats in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, tested positive for bird flu on February 28. Follow-up testing confirmed four additional infected cats on the same property.

The New Jersey Department of Health indicates that cats are particularly susceptible to severe illness and exhibit a high mortality rate when infected with bird flu.

Health officials have stated that cats can typically contract the virus by eating raw or undercooked meat or unpasteurized milk contaminated with the virus, being exposed to infected birds or animals, or through items or clothing contaminated from areas with confirmed infections.

Earlier this year, New York Governor Kathy Hochul addressed concerns regarding bird flu cases in live bird markets situated in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. On February 7, she announced a temporary closure of these markets after inspectors identified seven instances of bird flu.

“These measures are simply sensible steps designed to mitigate the spread of bird flu and to ensure the safety of New Yorkers,” Hochul expressed during a press briefing.

Residents of NYC are urged to report any observations of groups of sick or deceased birds to the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets at 518-457-3502.

For wild birds such as ducks, geese, hawks, eagles, crows, shorebirds, gulls, loons, and herons, residents are encouraged to submit a report online to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

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