Scientists urge urgent surveillance as fears of virus mutation grow

Washington, DC — Pet cats may become unexpected carriers of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, potentially transmitting it to humans, a new study has warned. Published in the journal Taylor & Francis, the research highlights an emerging zoonotic threat as the virus, which has devastated poultry farms across the US for over two years, could evolve to jump more easily between species.

The study raises concerns that cats’ close proximity to humans, combined with their biological susceptibility to the virus, might create ideal conditions for transmission. Researchers emphasized the urgent need for surveillance to prevent the virus from mutating and sparking a public health crisis.

Cats as carriers: New findings raise red flags

The alarm was triggered after 10 cats in South Dakota died in April, exhibiting severe respiratory and neurological symptoms. Analysis of the deceased animals revealed they were infected with a strain of bird flu resembling the one found in cattle on a nearby dairy farm, located about 80 kilometers away.

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The discovery raised troubling questions about how the virus spread to the cats. Evidence suggested that the animals may have consumed infected wild birds, as bird feathers were found near their bodies.

Researchers pointed to a unique biological vulnerability in cats that makes them potential intermediaries for H5N1. Unlike many other animals, cats possess two receptors to which both avian influenza (H5N1) and seasonal flu viruses can bind. This means cats could be infected with both viruses simultaneously, increasing the chances of mutations that make the bird flu virus more transmissible to humans.

“Infected cats develop systemic infections and shed the virus through both respiratory and digestive tracts, potentially creating multiple routes of exposure to humans,” the study explained. It added that the virus’s ability to persist and adapt in mammalian hosts significantly increases the risk of it evolving into a strain capable of human-to-human transmission.

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Growing fears of mutation and pandemic potential

The study follows broader concerns raised by health experts over the H5N1 strain’s potential to adapt rapidly. A related study conducted at the Scripps Research Institute in California suggested that the bird flu virus is evolving faster, heightening the risk of a pandemic.

While there is currently no evidence of cats transmitting H5N1 to humans, researchers underscored the need for vigilance. Dr. Suresh Kuchipudi, one of the study’s authors, emphasized that authorities must not overlook the risk posed by pets in the ongoing surveillance of bird flu.

“In the process of addressing the immediate problem—which is dairy farms and milk as a food safety problem, and then human surveillance—we might be missing a much bigger, evolving story. It may already have been happening in plain sight,” Dr. Kuchipudi said.

Urgent surveillance critical to prevent escalation

The findings highlight the need for comprehensive monitoring of H5N1 infections, not only among livestock but also in animals like cats that interact closely with humans. Scientists fear that as the flu season progresses, conditions could align for a mutation, creating a strain with pandemic potential.

Health authorities are now being urged to expand surveillance efforts and implement measures to prevent infected animals from spreading the virus. While the risk to humans remains low at present, the study serves as a stark warning of the virus’s evolving capabilities and the importance of early detection to avoid a future global health crisis.