Thursday, May 14, 2026

California reports first case of cat to human bird flu transmission

 
Photo of Boxer by Retiring Guy
Headline:  IFL Science, 5/13/2026

Dr. Katie Spalding reports:
The H5N1 strain of bird flu has come a long way since it was first discovered back in 1959. That’s true both literally – it’s been reported on every continent on Earth now save Australia, and no we’re not just forgetting about Antarctica when we say that – and figuratively, with the virus evolving well past its original limitations as it sweeps the globe. 
Indeed, at this point, “bird flu” is almost a misnomer. The disease is now basically established as a cow disease in the US; it’s been found in wild mammals from opossums to otters to even the odd polar bear; it’s infected dogs and cats and captive tigers. It’s even been contracted by more than 1,000 humans since 1997, with an overall reported death rate of roughly one in two. The situation is, you might say, not great. 
This week’s story starts back in early December of 2024, with a Los Angeles County kitty made sick by a fashionable diet. The pet had been given a commercial raw pet food, and quickly come down with a range of gnarly symptoms: breathing problems; lung lesions; limb weakness; loss of muscle coordination; and even a progressive loss of vision. Over a week and a half, its owners took it to four different vet clinics, evidently desperate to find out what was wrong with the poor cat.
Other bird flu posts:
May 11-15

May 6-10

May 1-5:

April 26-30:

April 21-25:
California bird flu news:  It's everywhere, it's everywhere!  (4/23)

April 16-20
 
April 11-15:

April 6-10:  
Even the 1% have to deal with bird flu  (The Hamptons Long Island edition).  (4/9)

April 1-5
Lancaster County Pennsylvania reports yet another case of bird flu. (4/1

March 26-31:

March 21-25:

March 16-20:

March 11-15, 2025

March 6-10, 2026.  

March 1-5, 2026

February 20-28,2026
SHOCKER!!  Dead birds found in Ohio gated community.  Bird flu suspected.  (2/21)

February 10-19, 2026
February 1-9, 2026

January 21-31, 2026

January 11-20, 2026
New York tells resident don't touch those dead birds.  (1/17)

January 1-10, 2026
Bird flu strain of avian influenza:  "The picture has grown darker and stranger than most would have imagined".  (1/8)
Bird flu reported on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. (1/8)Dozens of vultures die of bird flu in North Carolina.  (1/8)

December 16-31, 2025

December 1-15, 2025

November 15-30, 2025

November 1-15, 2025

October 2025

September 2025

April-August 2025

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