Could H5N1 Bird Flu be Fatal to Cats? | SOP ep. 97 - Dr. Andrew Bowman

Is the bird flu (H5N1) still a threat? The media may be quiet, but the risk to your pets, particularly cats, is very real. Hosts Alice and Janet welcome renowned expert Dr. Andrew Bowman, MS, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVPM, and a specialist in zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases, to get an urgent update. In this vital episode, Dr. Bowman breaks down:- The Current Threat: What strains of highly pathogenic H5N1 are currently circulating, and why they are concerning as they evolve and jump to new species.- The Danger to Cats: How the virus presents in cats—often as a rapidly progressing, fatal neurologic disease—and why it's a diagnostic challenge for veterinarians.- Raw Diets and Risk: The shocking viral load found in milk from infected dairy cattle and Dr. Bowman’s strong advice against feeding raw dairy or poultry products to pets.- From Wild Birds to the Farm: The seasonal trends in migratory birds, the challenge of containing the spread on farms, and how this "highly pathogenic" classification may be misleading for non-poultry species.- Prevention: Actionable advice for pet owners, including limiting outdoor exposure for cats and where the public can find resources to track H5N1 detections (USDA).Don't miss this essential discussion to protect your furry family members. Dr. Andrew Bowman MS, DVM, PhD, DACVPM. Dr. Bowman is an expert in viral infectious diseases, veterinary public health, and epidemiology. Dr. Bowman oversees a research team that focuses on infectious diseases in populations. He leads applied field research projects investigating the epidemiology of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in animal populations, with a focus on transmission across the animal-human interface. Before his return to academia at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine,, Dr. Bowman was a practicing veterinarian focused on food animal production.https://vet.osu.edu/people/andrew-bowman

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