The FDA reported that following up on a case of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a cat, testing performed by the USDA, state and local public health and agriculture partners, and federal partners suggests a link between the strain of H5N1 virus detected in the cat and in certain lots of RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats, a product the cat consumed before falling ill. The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) was notified that a cat that ate product from Lot CCS 25 093 became ill with H5N1 and was euthanized. After initial PCR testing of the open product sample collected from the pet owner by SFDPH detected H5N1, confirmatory PCR testing and subsequent WGS of a diagnostic sample from the cat and the open product sample were performed. The FDA collected and tested two retail samples of the same RAWR Chicken Eats product with a different lot number. Both samples were positive for Influenza A Virus, and WGS was performed on one sample, which was also positive for H5N1. WGS results indicated that H5N1 from all three samples were within the same WGS cluster, indicating relatedness. RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats is sold frozen in 2.5-pound resealable plastic bags containing 40 1-ounce sliders. The product is sold in retail stores nationwide and online. @ https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-notifies-pet-owners-tests-show-h5n1-contamination-certain-lots-rawr-raw-cat-food-chicken-eats?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
