ETIDIOH - NEW

{Automatic translation from Dutch to English} Date : January 23, 2026  Regarding : Dairy cow with antibodies against bird flu  Dear Chair , Through this letter, I am informing the House, also on behalf of the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, about the situation surrounding a dairy cow with antibodies against bird flu (highly pathogenic avian influenza, HPAI).  No evidence has been found of active virus circulation of bird flu among the dairy cows on this farm in the municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân (province of Friesland).  There are also no signs of bird flu spreading at other dairy farms .  I am currently conducting follow-up investigations and have asked all involved parties to be alert to any potential signs.  Situation :  The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) received a report on December 24, 2025 , about two sick cats .  One of these cats tested positive for bird flu.  The cat in question died on Decem...

  Abstract The emergence and broad circulation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus in wild birds and its spillover into dairy cows with sustained transmission in this species pose a major risk to felines , which are highly susceptible and often succumb to the infection . Here, we developed a novel recombinant hemagglutinin H5-based vaccine and evaluated its safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy against HPAI H5N1 virus in domestic cats . Immunization of cats with H5-vaccine candidate elicited robust levels of neutralizing antibodies against H5N1 virus and protection against disease, mortality, and infection upon H5N1 virus challenge. The vaccine-elicited immunity significantly reduced virus shedding and viremia , limiting systemic spread and disease severity in immunized animals. Importantly, beyond protecting susceptible felids, vaccinating cats against the H5N1 virus could also reduce the risk of human exposure - underscoring the One Health impact of i...

  Abstract Avian influenza virus (AIV) infections in cats are a new and not fully understood  problem  in Poland . These infections have drawn the attention of both veterinarians  and human medical  practitioners , mainly because of their zoonotic  potential , i.e. possible spreading to humans and  other mammals . In wild felids as  well as in domestic cats , AIV can cause severe infections , often  ending in death.  Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) and low pathogenic avian  influenza virus (LPAIV) have been identified, with the recent H5N1 (2.3.4.4b  clade) outbreak  affecting poultry, wild birds and carnivores .  Transmission likely occurs through contact with  infected birds , their excretions or  contaminated raw poultry , while cat-to-cat transmission  remains unconfirmed .  First reported in Thailand in 2003, H5N1 infections in cats have since  occurred in  multiple c...

{Excerpt} Several cats in Neuruppin have been infected with avian influenza , according to the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district administration . They have been taken into the care of the Office for Consumer Protection and Agriculture, the district announced. A cat infected with the H5N1 strain of the avian influenza virus was found dead in a wooded area near the town. Several media outlets have reported on this.  (...) Source:  Link:  https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/vogelgrippe-in-brandenburg-katzen-mit-geflugelpest-infiziert--warnung-vom-kreis-15014940.html ____

  Abstract Importance Since the early 2000s, companion animals emerged as unexpected players in influenza A virus ecology . Canine influenza viruses and the increasing detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in cats have raised concerns about their potential role as intermediate hosts for pandemic emergence . Their unique position at human-animal interface creates unprecedented opportunities for viral evolution and bidirectional transmission between humans and animals. Observations This review examined the transmission pathways and molecular adaptations of influenza A virus in companion animals. Cats primarily acquire infections through alimentary routes , including consumption of raw poultry and unpasteurized milk , as well as environmental exposure through hunting. Dogs transmit influenza viruses via respiratory droplets in high-density settings such as shelters and kennels . Canine influenza viruses demonstrate successful mammalian adaptation through accumulated m...

  The Hague, December 2 (Xinhua)  Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Safety and Nature, Femke Wilsma, reported on December 1 that the country had confirmed its first death from the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus . In a letter to the House of Representatives that day, Wilsma stated that the Institute of Biological Veterinary Medicine at Wageningen University had recently reported that a kitten at a goat farm tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus .  The kitten was found dead by its owner.  The remaining seven kittens from the same litter also died after being given to other new owners, suggesting that they may have also been infected with the avian influenza virus, but the specific route of infection is still uncertain. The letter stated that, according to the cat owner, the mother cat had brought back a dead wild bird , which was suspected to have carried the avian influenza virus, and the kittens were infected ...

  Highlights •  Raw pet foods and raw milk are emerging sources of H5N1 in pets . •  Cats are more severely infected with H5N1 when compared to dogs. •  H5N1 persistence in mammals indicate adaptive variants with increased zoonotic potential. •  No reported pet-to-human transmission of H5N1 has been reported. •  FDA now requires RMBD makers who are covered under FSMA to assess HPAI risk. Abstract The increasing popularity of raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) and raw milk feeding in companion animals presents a growing concern for zoonotic disease transmission. Recent evidence has demonstrated that these products can serve as vehicles for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 , an emergent viral threat with a host range from birds, dairy cattle , and pets to humans . Since the emergence of clade 2.3.4.4b in 2020 , HPAI H5N1 has caused widespread outbreaks in poultry, wild birds, and mammals , including dairy cattle and cats . Transmission to pets has been...

Abstract The first known human infection with a highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza A virus appeared in China in 1997 . Between 2003 and 2017, the WHO documented an additional 862 human cases, mainly from southeast Asia and Egypt , with a mean annual case fatality rate of 56%. By 2006, the susceptibility of cats to severe respiratory and neurologic disease became apparent. Scientists raised concerns regarding the potential for domestic cats to transmit novel pathogenic strains to humans. But after 2006, reports of new H5N1 infections in companion animals dwindled, and human cases fell after 2016. In 2021, H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses suddenly appeared in Europe and spread rapidly to the Americas , wreaking havoc on wildlife and crippling the poultry and dairy industries . Between 2022 and 2025, dozens of domestic cats died , most often following raw food consumption . Unease regarding the transmission potential of pets resurfaced. Although most human infections in the Americas were mild an...

  Key points   -- At the present time , based on available information, FAO-WHO-WOAH assess the global public health risk of influenza A(H5) viruses to be low , while the risk of infection for occupationally or frequently exposed (e.g., with backyard poultry) persons is low to moderate depending on the risk mitigation and hygiene measures in place and the local avian influenza epidemiological situation.  -- Transmission between animals continues to occur and, to date, a growing yet still limited number of human infections are being reported. Although additional human infections associated with exposure to infected animals or contaminated environments are expected to occur, the overall public health impact of such infections at a global level , at the present time, is considered minor . The assessment could change if and when additional epidemiological or virological information becomes available.  -- This risk assessment from FAO, WHO and WOAH updates the assessment ...