Can domestic pets, such as cats, transmit the highly pathogenic virus to humans?
There have been documented cases of domestic cats acquiring the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus by consuming raw infected chickens. The World Organization for Animal Health and Food and Agricultural Organization confirm that there is no present evidence that domestic cats play a role in the transmission of the H5N1 virus to humans. Scientific evidence also confirms that the risk of human infection from a pet, such as a domestic cat, is very low. Regardless, it is important to always practice proper hand-hygiene when around animals – either domestic or wild.
