There is much circulating about the "latest" influenza strain in the headlines, with plenty of fear-mongering feathered into the stories. Here, I provide more context to the situation so that you can also be informed while making decisions for your pets.

What is H5N1?
H5N1 is one strain of the influenza virus—yes, the same virus family that causes the common flu in humans. But here’s the kicker: there are many strains of influenza, and not all of them infect humans. Some are specific to birds (like chickens, ducks, and turkeys), while others target pigs and other animals.When it comes to humans, there are two types of influenza that can cause epidemics: Influenza A and Influenza B.
Influenza A is a little more complicated than Influenza B, as it’s divided into sub-types based on two surface antigens (think of these as little flags your immune system uses to identify the virus). These antigens are called hemagglutinin (the "H" in H5N1) and neuraminidase (the "N" in H5N1). There are 16 H types and 9 N types of influenza A. Influenza B, on the other hand, doesn’t have any sub-types.
Most viruses stick to one species, for example: these viruses only infect certain bacteria, plants, or animals. But influenza? It’s the rule-breaker. It’s known to jump species, sometimes mutating to infect a new host—like birds to cows. This is why H5N1 has caught so much attention; it’s one of those rare strains that can cross over, although still very uncommon.[1]
The Northwest Naturals Recall: Questions & Inconsistencies
On December 24, 2024 Nordic Naturals, a Portland, Oregon-based company, voluntarily recalled its Northwest Naturals brand 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe raw & frozen pet food.
Shortly following the recall, The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) started alerting pet owners that a sample of Northwest Naturals brand 2lb Turkey Recipe raw & frozen pet food tested positive for a H5N1 strain of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) then announced a recall, citing test results from an opened product sample.
Several inquiries were directed to the ODA, by Truth About Pet Food, seeking clarification about the pet food that allegedly tested positive. On January 7, 2025, their Director of Communications finally responded.
ODA's Response To The Inquiries:
Question: Did the ODA confirm that only an opened product of Northwest Naturals was tested for avian flu?
ODA Response: Both opened and unopened products were tested, but only the opened sample tested positive for H5N1. The recalled product was the opened 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe.
Unopened products did not test positive, yet the recall was triggered by the opened sample.
Question: Why wasn’t it disclosed that the recall was based on an opened sample?
ODA Response: This detail was deemed "not pertinent" to the recall, as H5N1 is not found in the environment, ruling out environmental contamination.
Transparency matters—failing to disclose this raises concerns about the reliability of the opened sample.
Question: Why was the affected cat described as "strictly indoor," when it participated in family outings to parks?
ODA Response: The cat was classified as indoor since its outdoor activities were "controlled," and no exposure to H5N1 was identified during these outings.
This misrepresentation muddles the facts, creating doubt about the investigation's accuracy.
Question: Can Oregon law enforce a recall based on an opened sample?
ODA Response: Under ORS 616, the ODA has the authority to enforce food laws and recall any product deemed "adulterated" or unfit for consumption, including pet food.
While legal, this raises questions about the consistency of enforcement across pet food types.
A Double Standard
While the ODA (legally) enforced a recall based on an opened sample of raw pet food, (unbeknownst to many pet parents) plenty of other pet foods in Oregon (and nationwide) are packed with ingredients from diseased or decomposed animals—think rendered ingredients like chicken meal or meat meal. These ingredients violate the same state and federal laws, but somehow, those violations get a free pass.
This situation underscores the ongoing struggle pet owners face with inconsistent pet food regulations. While raw pet food is held to rigorous standards, other types (kibble & canned) are allowed to sidestep the law. Consumers deserve transparency and fairness, and this recall highlights just how far the industry has to go to achieve both. [2]
The above is a summary of Truth About Pet Food's Article, for full details click here.
Another Feathery Tale Of Confusion
Prior to the voluntary pet food recall by Nordic Naturals, The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in late December 2024 had warned residents not to feed their pets Monarch Raw Pet Food, sold at various farmers markets in California, after samples tested positive for H5 bird flu. One house cat that consumed the product was confirmed positive for H5 bird flu, and four other cats from the same household were presumed positive.
What kind of testing was done on the cat that tested positive? Was it the same PCR test known for false positives when overused? And why weren’t the other cats tested to confirm? On top of that, was the raw food itself properly tested? There are way too many gaps in this story and not nearly enough answers to justify the sweeping fear about raw feeding.
Despite positive tests for H5N1 bird flu in pet food products from Northwest Naturals and Monarch Raw Pet Food, both the FDA and USDA have remained silent on the issue, leaving pet owners in a state of uncertainty.
The FDA, which oversees pet food, has not issued public notices or recalls for either brand, and the FDA Enforcement Report contains no information on these cases. Similarly, the USDA, responsible for regulating meats used in pet foods and addressing H5N1-positive poultry at the farm level, has yet to make any statements or take action.
This radio silence leaves pet owners stuck in limbo, with no clear direction on what steps to take next. It shines a glaring spotlight on a troubling gap in regulatory transparency and accountability. [3]
H5N1Detected in U.S. Dairy Cattle
Going Back further, on March 25, 2024 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), specifically avian influenza virus type A (H5N1), had been identified in U.S. dairy cattle for the first time. As of now, the virus has been confirmed in herds across 16 states, with California reporting the highest number of cases. This strain, which has previously affected birds and mammals, has shown a low mortality rate in cattle (2% or less) and primarily impacts lactating cows, causing symptoms like reduced appetite, lower milk production, and abnormal milk appearance. [4]
The First H5N1 Human Death
The first U.S. death from H5N1 avian influenza, reported in January 2025, involved an individual over 65 with underlying health conditions who had contact with infected backyard poultry. The Louisiana man was swabbed for samples of the virus in his nose and throat before his death. So were the sick chickens in his backyard, with which he was in direct contact. After analyzing these genetic sequences, scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found a few mutations in the deceased individual that weren’t detected in infected chickens on the man's property, suggesting that the virus began changing after infecting him. [5]
Current H5N1 Situation (as per the CDC)
According the CDC, wild birds are seeing widespread infections. Poultry flocks have faced sporadic outbreaks, and occasional cases have been detected in mammals. There have also been a few recent human cases among dairy and poultry workers here in the U.S.
Furthermore, according to the CDC, bird flu spreads through infected birds’ saliva, mucus, and feces. For animals that aren’t birds, the virus can show up in respiratory secretions, organs, blood, and even bodily fluids like milk. Humans? We can catch it through air particles entering our eyes, mouths, or noses. [9]
For now, the public health risk remains low. The CDC is working with states to monitor people who’ve had contact with infected animals. On top of that, they’re using their flu surveillance systems to track any signs of H5 bird flu in humans.
There’s no evidence of person-to-person spread, and the current public health risk remains low.
In the United States, there have been 67 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu reported so far (I am not seeing what year the CDC started collecting data), with one death associated with the virus. [6]
Components of the CDC Flu Surveillance Systems
The CDC’s flu surveillance systems are a collection of tools and programs used to track, monitor, and analyze influenza activity across the United States.
Outpatient Illness Monitoring - The CDC partners with healthcare providers to track the percentage of outpatient visits for flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat). This helps identify spikes in flu activity.
Laboratory Testing - Labs across the country send flu samples to the CDC for testing. This includes identifying specific strains of influenza (e.g., H3N2, H1N1) and detecting unusual or emerging flu viruses like H5N1.
Hospitalization Data - The CDC monitors flu-related hospitalizations through partnerships with healthcare facilities. This helps track severe cases and understand the virus's impact on vulnerable populations.
Mortality Surveillance - Flu-associated deaths, including pediatric deaths, are reported to the CDC. They also monitor pneumonia and flu-related mortality trends in the U.S.
Virologic Surveillance - The CDC’s labs analyze flu viruses to identify genetic changes, assess antiviral resistance, and track how flu vaccines might perform against circulating strains.
Animal Surveillance - The CDC collaborates with the USDA and other agencies to monitor flu viruses in animals, like poultry or swine, that could potentially jump to humans.
Behavioral and Social Data - Surveys and studies help the CDC understand flu vaccination rates and public attitudes toward flu prevention.
Data from these systems is combined and analyzed weekly to produce the CDC FluView, a public report that shows where and how flu is spreading, which age groups are most affected, and how severe the season is. When it comes to outbreaks like H5 bird flu, the CDC extends this system to include additional monitoring of people exposed to infected animals.
What Is PCR Testing?
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a high-tech copying machine for DNA. This test looks for tiny traces of genetic material, like a detective looking for microscopic fingerprints at a crime scene.
It works by first collecting a sample—this could be a nasal swab, blood, another body fluid, or live or dead tissue as in the case of animal testing for H5N1. If the virus’s genetic material is present, PCR amplifies it in cycles, making copies until there’s enough to detect. After enough copies are made, the test detects the viral genetic material, giving you a positive or negative result.
But here’s the kicker, the test is only supposed to be run up to 30 cycles to avoid false positives. Despite this, most testing facilities crank it up to 45 cycles, drastically increasing the chances of finding something that isn’t actually there. Talk about muddying the waters! [7]
Keep in mind, PCR testing is just a snapshot—it only tells you what’s happening at that exact moment. It can’t say if you or your pet are contagious or if the virus is ancient history, leaving behind nothing more than a few “genetic crumbs.”
The debates about PCR’s accuracy and over-testing have been swirling for a long time, and they’re still going strong. How the results were and continue to be interpreted remains a hot topic.
Back to the house cat that tested positive. What kind of testing was done on that cat? Was it the same PCR test known for false positives when overused? And why weren’t the other cats tested to confirm? On top of that, was the raw food itself properly tested? There are way too many gaps in this story and not nearly enough answers to justify the sweeping fear about raw feeding. [8]
Signs of H5N1 In Pets
Clinical signs of H5N1 infection in cats are better known than in dogs. Signs in either species may include the following:
Fever
Lethargy
Low appetite
Reddened or inflamed eyes
Discharge from the eyes and nose
Difficulty breathing
Neurologic signs, like tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindness
Because several of the listed signs are often encountered with common respiratory diseases of cats and dogs, your veterinarian likely will need to run some tests to help determine the cause. Be sure to let your veterinarian know if your pet may have eaten a dead wild bird or other animal, or consumed unpasteurized cow’s milk. [12]
What About Dogs?
Can they catch H5N1? The answer is technically yes—they can be exposed the same way cats can, by consuming infected saliva, mucus, or feces. [11] However, the virus doesn’t seem to have the right mutations to infect dogs, and so far, there’s been no evidence of it being transmitted to them.
Should I Worry About My Raw Food?
The risk of H5N1 contamination in raw pet food is low. In this blog, we’ve touched on two cases—both involving questionable testing practices and incomplete information, with no intervention or updates from the FDA or USDA. And let me repeat: two cases. Not 20, not 200—just two.
For now, I feel completely confident continuing to feed my dogs and cats a raw food diet, including all meat options like poultry and beef. That said, it’s always smart to stay informed, so keep an eye on this developing story and keep learning. You can bet I’ll be doing the same!
In Summary
H5N1 bird flu has been making headlines, but let’s sift through the noise and focus on the facts. This virus is widespread in wild birds, causing sporadic outbreaks in poultry and mammals, and even showing up in U.S. dairy cattle for the first time. While human cases remain extremely rare, they’ve mostly involved individuals with direct exposure to infected animals, like poultry workers or dairy farm staff.
The virus’s persistence to survive beyond its host are fascinating, but its transmission routes—saliva, mucus, or feces—make cross-species infections uncommon. Dogs, for instance, have yet to contract the virus, as it lacks the necessary mutations to infect them.
Bottom line: The current public health risk is low, but staying informed and practicing good bio-security for both pets and livestock is key. I’ll be keeping an eye on this developing story.
Contributing author:
Everwell Tribe Leader, Brooklynne Levasseur

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Sources:
[7] Bird Flu - by Judy Jasek, DVM - Healing your Pet's Terrain