Key Points or Updates:
(1) Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) virus, also known as “bird flu,” is a virus that has
been circulating in wild birds worldwide. It is causing outbreaks in poultry,
and more recently in dairy cows, in the United States. Bird flu has not been
detected in New Jersey dairy cattle as of the date of this message and there
have been no recent detections in NJ poultry. There have been previous
detections in wild birds and domestic poultry in New Jersey. Bird flu is a
zoonotic disease that has caused sporadic infections in people exposed to
infected animals.
(2)
Bird flu viruses have infected other mammalian
species, including cats. In late March and early April 2024,
Texas reported detection of HPAI A(H5N1) in several cats from several dairy
farms experiencing HPAI A(H5N1) virus infections in dairy cows, suggesting the
virus spread to the cats either from affected dairy cows, raw cow milk, or from
wild birds associated with those farms. Multiple other states have also
reported detections of bird flu in cats- additional information can be found on
the United States Department of Agriculture website.
(3)
To further
characterize bird flu in cats and screen for additional bird flu cases, the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Service Laboratories (NVSL) sent
out a request to partner with state and local public health to test cats
submitted for rabies testing, that test rabies negative, for follow up
influenza A testing.
(4)
Beginning on July
8th, New Jersey Department of Health
Rabies Laboratory and New Jersey Department of Agriculture Animal Health
Diagnostic Laboratory are seeking to test the following cats for Influenza A that
are submitted to the rabies laboratory and that test negative for rabies:
a.
Stray cats
b.
Owned cats that have access to the outdoors
c.
Cats that had any known exposure to wild birds
or wild mammals, domestic poultry, livestock, or raw milk
Action Items:
(1)
Veterinarians, local health departments, and
animal control that are submitting cat specimens for rabies testing should collect
information on whether cats would meet the above criteria for additional
influenza testing if the cat tests negative for rabies.
a.
The NJ Rabies Laboratory has added questions on
this epidemiologic information into the PHEL Online Ordering Portal ( https://www.nj.gov/health/phel/documents/PHLS%20LIMS/LIMSIT-Rabies1.pdf) - local health
departments should coordinate with veterinarians and ensure that this
information is completed on the ordering form. These questions will be asked
for specimens submitted on or after July 8th.
(2)
If owned cats are being submitted for rabies
testing and meet the criteria, veterinarians or local health departments should
notify the owner prior to submission that influenza A testing may occur if the
cat tests negative for rabies.
a.
As a reminder, owners of pets submitted for
rabies testing must also be made aware of the protocols and procedures of
rabies testing both verbally and in writing. A form is available on NJDOH’s
website to be used by the veterinarian preparing the specimen or local health
department ordering the testing to provide information in writing on rabies
testing: https://www.nj.gov/health/forms/vph-35.pdf
(3)
Specimens from cats that meet the criteria for
bird flu testing and test negative for rabies will be sent for follow-up
testing at the NJ Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory. Positive influenza A
samples will be sent for further confirmation at NVSL. New Jersey Department of
Health will perform a public health investigation and provide guidance to
exposed persons following any detections of bird flu in cats.
(4)
The CDC has recommendations for veterinarians
and veterinary staff that are working with suspected or confirmed-positive
animals for bird flu https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/veterinarians-handling-cats.htm
a.
If a veterinarian suspects bird flu in a cat, staff
should wear the recommended
PPE and follow additional CDC
guidance to limit human exposure. Contact NJDOH Office of Veterinary Public Health
at 609-826-4872. NJDOH can also assist with coordinating testing for suspect
cat cases that are not being submitted for rabies testing.
(5)
Veterinarians working with domestic poultry or
livestock should immediately report any suspect bird flu cases in these animals to the NJ Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health.
Additional information can be found at https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/ah/
Contact Information:
·
Questions or concerns regarding testing can be
sent to rabies.phel@doh.nj.gov
·
To reach the NJDOH Communicable Disease Service,
contact Zoonoticrn@doh.nj.gov or (609)
826-5964 during business hours
References and Resources:
·
https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/novel_flu.shtml
·
https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/ah/
·
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/veterinarians-handling-cats.htm
·
Reducing
Risk for People Working with or Exposed to Animals | Bird Flu | CDC
·
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections
This information has been broadcast to: Animal Health Professionals; Animal Control Officer (ACO); Veterinarians; Animal Shelter; Local Boards of Health; County LINCS;