The US Food and Drug Administration said it is tracking multiple cases of H5N1 bird flu in domestic and wild cats, including cases linked to contaminated pet food.

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Reports of cats becoming seriously ill or dying after consuming raw pet food or milk tainted with the deadly bird flu virus have prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to urge pet food manufacturers to take extra precautions.

Across the United States, bird flu is no longer a concern only for dairy and poultry farms — it’s now knocking on the gates of zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, putting some of the nation’s rarest animals at risk.

As more cases of bird flu emerge across the country, public health leaders in New York City are watching warily -- and making preparations in case the virus becomes a more immediate threat.

The move comes after two cases of bird flu were reported in Easingwold in the last few days. Will Raw, who is a farmer in North Yorkshire and a member of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), said orders were being put in place more quickly these days as "we've learned a great many lessons from the outbreak in 2022".