Transmission Uncertainty
Two indoor cats owned by dairy workers died from bird flu, but it's unclear how they were infected or if the virus could be spread to humans in the household.
The study, lacking in details, couldn't confirm human-to-cat or cat-to-human transmission, leading experts to call for more comprehensive H5N1 testing.
Investigation Findings
One cat belonged to a farmworker in a county with bird flu-infected cattle, and the other to a worker who transported raw milk. Both workers reported symptoms but declined H5N1 testing.
The first household's cats had no exposure to infected cattle or birds and didn't consume raw milk. The study highlights the rarity of bird flu in indoor cats but suggests they could pose a risk for human infection.