Tag Archives: HPAI

Since 2022, there has been an ongoing epidemic in wild birds of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the United States. In the press, this virus is often referred to by its acronym, HPAI, or its influenza virus A subtype, H1N5. This epidemic has spilled over into domestic birds like chickens, turkeys and ducks. Mammals have also been infected with HPAI, including large cats like cougars and tigers, small cats, a smattering of wildlife and the occasional human being. While the outbreak is concentrated on the West Coast and in the Midwest, all 50 United States have reported cases of avian influenza. With all this going on, I am worried about bird flu in my canine and feline patients, and that’s the topic of today’s blogpost.

June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, and we’re highlighting our feline friends throughout the month with a series of cat-focused posts. Last week, I highlighted some household hazards specifically affecting cats. Today’s blogpost will focus on a much larger issue, the current nationwide outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1. The term highly pathogenic refers to how the virus behaves in birds. It may behave differently in other animals.