Raw Pet Food Can Endanger Humans as Well as Pets

Raw pet food has once again caused the death of a cat, this time due to HPAI H5N1 for which samples of the food tested positive. It is not the first time such events have occurred: last December, a house cat in Oregon contracted H5N1 and died after eating raw frozen pet food made from turkey, and more recently, a raw pet food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 caused a young girl to develop a severe case of hemolytic uremic syndrome.

While most cases of infected/contaminated pet food have harmed or caused the death of the animals themselves, human infections are rare but can occur through a family member’s handling of the raw pet food or surfaces on which it sat, and not washing hands before preparing human food or touching their mouth, nose, or eyes. The pets themselves can also cause cross contamination, as asymptomatic carriers through their saliva, urine, or feces.

Because of this, both state and federal officials continue to discourage the consumption of raw meats by both people and pets. Even though the risk to humans of contracting an infection from handling raw pet food is low, those who are exposed through an infected pet, or otherwise, should monitor themselves for symptoms, which can include fever or feeling feverish/chills; cough; sore throat; difficulty breathing (shortness of breath); eye tearing; redness or irritation (conjunctivitis); headaches; runny or stuffy nose; muscle or body aches; and/or diarrhea/vomiting. 

With H5N1 continuing to track in the U.S., the FDA issued a determination earlier this year requiring cat and dog food manufacturers to reanalyze their food safety plans to include the HPAI virus (specifically H5N1) as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard in their Food Safety Plan. The update was also issued to ensure that the manufacturers are aware of information about the new H5N1 hazard associated with their pet food products, which is an additional reason that manufacturers must conduct a reanalysis of their food safety plans.

COVID Risk Matrix:

Influenza:

Public Health News:

• The World Health Organization announced on Sept 5, 2025, an end to the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) for mpox outbreaks in Africa after 1 year. The rationale for this decision includes better understanding of how the virus is transmitted, its risk factors, and local response capabilities. However, as more of a regional response, the African CDC extended the public health emergency of continental security (PHECS) due to continuing reports of cases, though overall case numbers are dropping, and to keep focus on the continued threat.
• Through late August, more than 400 people have contracted salmonellosis linked to contact with backyard poultry in nearly all 50 states. There have been 93 hospitalizations and 2 deaths. The outbreak strains have been linked to 4 hatcheries.
• A cat in San Francisco that ate RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats was infected with HPAI H5N1 and was later euthanized. Samples of the food tested positive for H5N1. In response, the FDA suggests caution when handling pet food to prevent possible human exposure. 
• Florida officials have announced a plan to phase out all childhood vaccine mandates. This can include the state health department removing mandates and where needed, appropriate actions by the state legislature. There appears to be some movement among other states (e.g., WA, OR, CA) to form regional alliances to establish vaccine recommendations for other parts of the US.
• An outbreak of Ebola has been declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as of Sept. 4, 2025, with 28 suspect cases and 16 deaths reported, including 4 among healthcare workers. The last outbreak occurred in the DRC three years ago. This current outbreak is the 16th outbreak ever recorded since 1976 in the DRC and the eighth since 2018.