H5N1 updates raise fresh concerns for cats and cattle

Version 1

H5N1 surveillance is picking up concerning signals in both companion animals and cattle. In Washington state, an outdoor cat died after testing positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, underscoring the ongoing spillover risk for cats with access to wild birds or other contaminated animal products. In the Netherlands, investigators found H5N1 antibodies in milk from a dairy cow on a Friesland farm after a farm cat there tested positive, marking the first reported evidence of prior H5N1 infection in cattle in Europe. Dutch officials said no virus was detected in the cow or other tested cattle, and the farm was placed under restrictions while follow-up testing continued. (wur.nl)

Why it matters: For veterinarians, these reports add to a broader pattern: cats remain highly susceptible to H5N1, and recent reviews have found a sharp rise in feline infections since 2023, with high fatality among PCR-confirmed cases. The Dutch finding also reinforces that cattle exposure may not be limited to the U.S. outbreak pattern, even if the Netherlands has not found active viral shedding in milk or animals. That means clinics should keep H5N1 on the differential list for cats with acute neurologic or respiratory disease, ask about outdoor exposure, raw diets, and raw milk, and stay alert to farm-linked cases that could otherwise be missed. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: Watch for the Dutch farm’s full follow-up results, any additional European cattle detections, and whether U.S. or European veterinary agencies update guidance for cats, dairy farms, or raw animal product exposure. (wur.nl)