The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported 36 detections of H5N1 avian flu in house mice and domestic cats. The first detection of avian influenza in domestic cats occurred in Oklahoma, with additional cases reported in Michigan’s Clinton County and Idaho’s Jerome County, where H5N1 has also been detected in poultry, alpacas, and dairy herds. The most recent case was found in Colorado’s Morgan County.
Most cases were recorded in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, for a total of 47. Public health authorities are concerned by the increase in infections spreading from birds to domestic pets.