Los Angeles officials warn against raw pet food as H5N1 bird flu infection in cat confirmed

Los Angeles county public health officials have issued a new warning to pet owners to stop feeding dogs and cats raw pet food after the H5N1 bird flu virus was found in product samples.

"The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is advising residents to not feed their pets Monarch Raw Pet Food sold at several farmers markets in California," the agency said, noting that an L.A. county house cat that was fed the product had been confirmed to have the virus. Four other cats from the same home were "presumed to have also been positive for H5 bird flu after consuming the product."

The health department urged residents who fed their pets the Monarch raw food products or any other raw meat or dairy items and noticed their animal exhibiting any unusual behavior to immediately contact their veterinarian.