Eric R Burrough, Drew R Magstadt, Barbara Petersen, Simon J Timmermans, Phillip C Gauger, Jianqiang Zhang, Chris Siepker, Marta Mainenti, Ganwu Li, Alexis C Thompson, Patrick J Gorden, Paul J Plummer, Rodger Main
We report highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in dairy cattle and cats in Kansas and Texas, United States, which reflects the continued spread of clade 2.3.4.4b viruses that entered the country in late 2021. Infected cattle experienced nonspecific illness, reduced feed intake and rumination, and an abrupt drop in milk production, but fatal systemic influenza infection developed in domestic cats fed raw (unpasteurized) colostrum and milk from affected cows. Cow-to-cow transmission appears to have occurred because infections were observed in cattle on Michigan, Idaho, and Ohio farms where avian influenza virus-infected cows were transported...
April 29, 2024: Emerging Infectious Diseases