USA: Domestic cat infected with HPAI
7 April, 2023
The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has been identified by the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory (WSVL) in a barn cat near Thermopolis, WY. The feline is the first domestic cat in Wyoming to be diagnosed with HPAI, likely contracted from consuming wild waterfowl meat.
According to WSVL, HPAI has affected a large number of wild birds, mainly waterfowl. However, the virus has now been detected in wild carnivorous mammals, including mountain lions and a red fox.
In 2023, various mammals infected with avian influenza have also been reported in Canada, Mexico, and South America. Furthermore, about eleven humans have recently contracted this strain of avian influenza.
