Health
Bird flu causes deaths of cats and zoo animals as virus spreads in US
Just days after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a new order that all raw (unpasteurized) milk must be tested for bird flu, reports have emerged of animals dying of the virus.
In Los Angeles County, the public health department is investigating the deaths of two cats that reportedly consumed recalled raw milk.
After drinking the milk, the felines displayed symptoms that included lack of appetite, fever and neurologic issues, according to a press release from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
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“The infected cats died after severe worsening of their illness, and subsequently tested positive for influenza A, a rare result in cats,” the release stated.
Reports have emerged of animals dying of bird flu in various parts of the U.S. (not pictured). The USDA recently issued a new order that all raw (unpasteurized) milk must be tested for the virus. (iStock)
Health officials are considering these “suspected H5 bird flu cases” and confirmatory testing is underway.
Cats can contract bird flu by consuming infected birds or other animals or drinking raw milk from infected cows, according to health officials.
Although it is possible for cats to transmit influenza strains to humans, there have been no reports of it happening with the current H5 bird flu outbreak.
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“The risk of H5 bird flu remains low in Los Angeles County, but this suspected case of the virus in a pet cat that consumed raw milk is a reminder that consuming raw dairy products can lead to severe illness in cats,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, in the release.
“To avoid the spread of disease, including H5 bird flu, we strongly encourage residents and their pets to avoid raw dairy and undercooked meat products, limit contact with sick or dead animals, report sick or dead birds, and keep pets or poultry away from wild animals and birds.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health for additional comment.
Two cats in Los Angeles (not pictured) reportedly died from bird flu after consuming raw milk. (iStock)
Meanwhile, at the Wildlife World Zoo in Maricopa County, Arizona, a few resident animals have reportedly died after becoming infected with bird flu.
Local reports stated that a cheetah, a mountain lion, a swamphen, an Indian goose and a kookaburra died as a result of bird flu, according to a zoo official.
A white tiger also was confirmed to be infected but “appeared to be responding to treatment,” per the report.
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“Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) is working closely with state and federal partners to respond to detection of avian influenza in a small number of animals that are part of a zoo collection in Litchfield Park,” health officials stated in a press release this week.
“Overall risk to the public and zoo visitors remains low.”
A zoo representative provided an update to Fox News Digital on Friday.
“Fortunately, we are nine days out without anymore positive cases,” a zoo representative told Fox News Digital. “We also have not had any positive cases with any of our employees or volunteers as a result of avian influenza.” (iStock)
“Fortunately, we are nine days out without anymore positive cases,” the spokesperson said. “We also have not had any positive cases with any of our employees or volunteers as a result of avian influenza.”
“We are all devastated by the loss of five cherished animals, but with over 6,000 animals, we are grateful that the impact was limited thanks to our swift response and robust protocols.”
“We are all devastated by the loss of five cherished animals.”
Continued outbreaks have also been reported among dairy cattle, poultry, waterfowl and wild birds in multiple U.S. states.
Sam Scarpino, PhD, director of AI and life sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, said the animal deaths are “continued signs” that the situation with H5N1 in the U.S. is “getting worse, not better.”
Continued outbreaks have also been reported among dairy cattle, poultry, waterfowl and wild birds in multiple U.S. states. (iStock)
“The reported infections in humans and now domestic cats due to their consumption of raw milk also highlights how dangerous it is for people to consume raw milk,” he told Fox News Digital.
“It’s important that we take steps to better control the transmission of H5N1 in dairy cows and better understand how it’s spreading between states in the U.S.”
“Studies indicate that even a single mutation could significantly enhance its infectivity in humans.”
Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, a San Francisco biotechnology company, warned that H5N1 has been found in “relatively high concentrations” in raw milk.
“Without pasteurizing it, the virus remains viable in the milk and could potentially infect someone who drinks it,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“It’s not that common of an occurrence, as we’ve not seen a rash of H5N1 infections from raw milk drinkers, but the virus is mutating and is therefore a potential risk.”
Although most cows have only had mild infection, Glanville noted that the strain has been “highly virulent” in birds, ferrets and primates.
“The reported infections in humans and now domestic cats due to their consumption of raw milk also highlights how dangerous it is for people to consume raw milk,” an expert told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“Studies indicate that even a single mutation could significantly enhance its infectivity in humans,” he said.
“Given the virus’ ability to persist in milk and infect mucosal membranes, along with the potential for a pandemic, avoiding raw milk is strongly recommended,” Glanville added.
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The expert also emphasized that it’s critical to only drink pasteurized milk to prevent the spread of harmful pathogens commonly found in raw milk.
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Cases of gout are rising in younger individuals, according to a global study.
The condition, which is a type of inflammatory arthritis, steadily increased in people aged 15 to 39 between 1990 and 2021, researchers in China announced.
Although rates vary widely between countries, the total number of young people with the condition is expected to continue rising through 2035.
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The study, published in the journal Joint Bone Spine, investigated 2021 data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), spanning 204 countries within the 30-year timeframe.
The data measured gout prevalence, incidence and years lived with disability, tracking global trends over time. The results showed a global increase across all three outcomes.
Gout is expected to continue rising in young people through 2035. (iStock)
Prevalence and disability years increased by 66%, and incidence rose by 62%. In 2021, 15- to 39-year-olds accounted for nearly 14% of new gout cases globally, the study found.
Men from 35 to 39 years old and people in high-income regions had the highest burden, but high-income North America topped the list for highest rates.
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Men were also found to have lived more years with gout due to high BMI, while women tended to have the condition as a link to kidney dysfunction, the study noted.
The total number of cases is expected to increase globally due to population growth, but the study projected that rates per population would decrease.
The researchers noted that data quality, especially in low-income settings, could have posed a limitation to the broad GBD data.
What is gout?
Gout is a common form of arthritis involving sudden and severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in the joints, according to Mayo Clinic. It most often occurs in the big toe.
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The condition occurs when urate crystals accumulate in the joint. These form when there are high levels of uric acid in the blood, which the body produces when it breaks down a natural substance called purines.
A gout flare-up can happen at any time, often at night, causing the affected joint to feel hot, swollen, tender and sensitive to the touch.
Urate crystals, described as sharp and needle-like, build up in the joint, causing intense pain and swelling. (iStock)
Purines can also be found in certain foods, like red meat or organ meats like liver and some seafood, including anchovies, sardines, mussels, scallops, trout and tuna, according to the Mayo Clinic. Alcoholic drinks, especially beer, and drinks sweetened with fruit sugar can also lead to higher uric acid levels.
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Uric acid will typically dissolve in the blood and pass through the kidneys into urine, but when the body produces too much or too little uric acid, it can cause a build-up of urate crystals. These are described by the Mayo Clinic as sharp and needle-like, causing pain, inflammation and swelling in the joint or surrounding tissue.
Risk factors for gout include a diet rich in high-purine foods and being overweight, which causes the body to produce more uric acid and the kidneys to have trouble eliminating it.
Experts urge patients to seek medical attention for gout flare-ups. (iStock)
Certain conditions like untreated high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome and heart and kidney diseases can increase the risk of gout, as well as certain medications.
A family history of gout can also increase risk. Men are more likely to develop the condition, as women tend to have lower uric acid levels, although symptoms generally develop after menopause.
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Untreated gout can cause worsening pain and joint damage, experts caution. It may also lead to more severe conditions, such as recurrent gout, advanced gout and kidney stones.
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The Mayo Clinic advises patients to seek immediate medical care if a fever occurs or if a joint becomes hot and inflamed, which is a sign of infection. Certain anti-inflammatory medications can help treat gout flares and complications.
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.
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A new study suggests that annual mammograms may not be the only effective approach for preventing breast cancer.
The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), tested a risk-based breast cancer screening approach against standard annual mammography.
The WISDOM randomized clinical trial, led by study authors from universities and healthcare systems across the U.S., considered more than 28,000 women aged 40 to 74 years old, splitting them into a risk-based screening group and an annual mammography group.
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Researchers calculated each woman’s individual risk based on genetics (sequencing of nine breast cancer genes) and other health factors.
A new study suggests that annual mammograms may not be the only effective approach for preventing breast cancer. (iStock)
Those who were at the highest risk were advised to alternate between a mammogram and an MRI scan every six months. Patients with elevated risk were told to get an annual mammography and counseling.
Average-risk women were guided to get mammograms every two years, while low-risk individuals were advised to have no screening until they became higher risk or reached age 50.
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The researchers found that risk-based screening did not lead to more advanced cancer diagnoses (stage 2B or higher) compared with annual screening, indicating that it is just as safe as traditional methods. The risk-based approach, however, did not reduce the number of biopsies overall, as researchers had hoped.
Among the risk-based group of women, those with higher risk had more screening, biopsies and detected cancers. Women at lower risk had fewer procedures.
The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), tested a risk-based breast cancer screening approach against standard annual mammography. (iStock)
“[The] findings suggest that risk-based breast cancer screening is a safe alternative to annual screening for women aged 40 to 74 years,” the researchers noted in the research summary. “Screening intensity matched individual risk, potentially reducing unnecessary imaging.”
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Fox News medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier, associate professor of radiology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New Jersey, commented that while these findings are important, the study “completely sidelines” what screenings are designed to do — detect cancer early.
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“If you don’t measure stage 0, stage 1 or stage 2A cancers, you can’t tell whether personalized screening delays diagnosis in a way that matters for survival and treatment intensity,” Saphier, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital in an interview.
Those who were at the highest risk were advised to alternate between a mammogram and an MRI scan every six months. (iStock)
More than 60% of breast cancers in the U.S. are diagnosed at stage 1 or 2A, where cure rates exceed 90%, the doctor noted.
The trial doesn’t “fully evaluate” whether risk-based screening changes detection at the earliest and most treatable stages, where screening “delivers its greatest benefit,” according to Saphier.
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“Mammography is not without risk — radiation exposure, false positives, anxiety and potential over-diagnosis are real and should be acknowledged,” she said. “But it remains the most effective, evidence-based tool for detecting breast cancer early, when treatment is most successful.”
The expert added that labeling women under 50 as “low risk” is “outdated,” as breast cancer diagnoses are on the rise in younger females.
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“Until long-term mortality data support alternative approaches, annual screening beginning at 40 for average risk women should continue,” Saphier added. “Women should be assessed for breast cancer risk by 25 years old to determine if screening should begin earlier.”
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