Post Reply - What is the matter in Colorado ?

HPAI H5N1 infection should be considered in domestic felines even if all of the risk factors or clinical signs are not present

   https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2024/08/colorado-cmva-statement-on-influenza.html or https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2024/08/colorado-cmva-statement-on-influenza.html ;

Details on where, and under what circumstances, many of these infected animals were detected remain disappointingly sparse.   On Friday, however, the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) published a brief report on 6 domestic cats infected with the virus in their state in 2024. 

Highlights include:
Only 1 of the 6 were directly linked to a dairy farm
Two of the 6 were indoor only cats, with no known exposures to the virus
Three of the 6 were indoor/outdoor cats, which may have hunted mice and/or small birds
Five of the 6 presented with respiratory symptoms and neurological impairment
The CVMA cautions that `HPAI H5N1 infection should be considered in domestic felines even if all of the risk factors or clinical signs are not present', and that there is a `high abundance' of the virus in the environment right now.

We've seen fairly stringent recommendations from the CDC on the precautions that veterinarians should be taking when working with potentially infected animals (see CDC Guidance for Veterinarians: Evaluating & Handling Cats Potentially Exposed to HPAI H5N1).
And while the risk of a pet owner being infected by their cat (or dog) is considered low, it is not zero. 
DJ, unclear spread into these Colorado cats...It may signal lots of (mammal) H5N1 cases may be missed...Virus spread via shoes ? 