Since May 2022, 145 domestic cats have been diagnosed with H5N1 aviate flu. Although the information from the FDA is not exactly clear – in the same time frame, five or six cats were reported by the agency for consuming a contaminated raw pet food. In other words, 4% of the diagnosed cats in H5N1 in the United States are believed to have become ill from a raw pet food.
But what about the remaining 96% of diagnosed cats? What style and brand of pet food consumed the remaining 139 diagnosed cats? We don't know, the FDA has not told us.
We submitted inquiries about freedom for information about several states that experienced a diagnosed cat, we asked for entries regarding the diagnosed cat (in search of information for the style of food that is consumed and whether pet food was tested); Washington, Colorado, South Dakota, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey and New York. Several states reported that they did not track H5N1 bird flu in cats, several states reported that the information requested would not be provided in a FOIA request under their state laws, and some states gave us registers.
But of the items we received, no information was provided about what style or brand of pet food consumed by the sick cat. Not a disc indicated if the unknown pet food was tested. We do not know if these items do not exist or if they were held in our Foia.
Is only pet food authorities diagnosed in the style of pet food an H5N1 aviate flu diagnosed cat consumed if it was raw? We don't know.
If the authorities silently know what style of pet foods the other 139 cats consumed, did anyone test these foods? We don't know, the FDA has not told us.
Exposure to outdoors.
The other relevant information that the FDA neglects to tell the public is how many of the sick cats were outdoor cats (either full -time like barns or part -time outdoors)? Cats that go outdoors could have been infected with H5N1 bird flu from wild birds.
How many of the remaining 139 cats were just indoor cats? How many were cats indoors/outdoors? We don't know, the FDA has not told us.
What happens if 96% of H5N1 -diagnosed cats were indoor/outdoor cats? Some information has been released that several of the diagnosed cats were agricultural taxes, what happens if all 139 (96%) were outdoor cats? If this was the case, that statistics would show that the most significant risk of infecting a cat with H5N1 bird flu would be exposure to outdoors. If this is the case, shouldn't the FDA alert the public of the risk of cats going outdoors? And by not warning the public to this risk, isn't the FDA putting more cats at risk by not warning the public?
The problem is that since the FDA does not tell us the details, we must make assumptions. To better protect our pets, we deserve information. All information.
Without the agency providing pet owners all information, it is difficult not to believe that the FDA chooses raw pet food as an H5N1scape get. FDA's only message to the public's pointed fingers on raw pets saying: “We encourage consumers to carefully consider the risk of this new pathogen before feeding their pets uncooked meat or an uncooked pet food product.”
Again … FDA – You warn pet owners about the circumstances of 4% of the diagnosed cases. How about the remaining 96% of cases? Doesn't pet owners deserve all information to better protect our pets?
Feel free to send E -post to the FDA Center for veterinary medicine with your problems; E -post: askcvm@fda.hhs.gov.
We sent the FDA following message:
The FDA has issued several public warnings regarding raw pet food, the potential for the food is contaminated with HPAI. However, diagnosed cats that consumed a raw pet food make up only 4% of the total (USDA statistics, 145 total diagnosed house cats since May 2022). What food style did 96% of cats consume? What percentage of cats were only indoor cats? What percentage of cats had access to outdoors?
If – this is an assumption because you have not provided pet owners with any information other than on raw pet foods – 96% of the diagnosed cats were outdoor cats, isn't the FDA negligent not to warn the public to this significant risk?
If – again an assumption because you have not provided these details – 96% of the diagnosed cats consumed a kibble pet food, isn't the FDA negligent not to warn the public to this significant risk?
The point is that pet owners cannot protect their pets correctly when the FDA only provides information about 4% of cases. We deserve all information and quickly. Before the flu season begins.
If the FDA responds, it will be shared.
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author buyers watch out, co -authors dinner pawsible
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