Opinion: Why cats are so vulnerable to H5N1 bird flu
Cats could play a key role in the spreading of H5N1 bird flu — but there is still much we don’t know.
In 2024, as zoos were hit hard by H5N1 bird flu, big cats were particularly affected: tigers, lions, a cheetah, and a panther all died after being infected with the same virus that has caused egg prices to skyrocket.
House cats are vulnerable to H5N1, too, as Meghan F. Davis, a veterinarian and epidemiologist with Johns Hopkins University, and co-authors recently wrote in a First Opinion essay. In this episode of the “First Opinion Podcast,” I spoke with Davis about the lack of surveillance of H5N1 in pets, why cats seem to be at such risk from the virus, why it’s so dangerous to give your pets raw milk and raw-meat pet food, and veterinary medicine’s key but often overlooked role in human health.
