A California man from San Bernardino tragically lost two of his beloved cats, Alexander and Tuxsie, after they drank raw milk that was later recalled due to a bird flu risk. The man, Joseph Journell, had been giving his cats unpasteurized milk from a brand called Raw Farm, which was found to contain the H5N1 bird flu virus. Despite being kept indoors and having no access to infected birds, the cats fell ill and eventually passed away.
Journell had been consuming the same raw milk himself, believing it had immune-boosting properties that could help his cats, especially Alexander, who was losing weight. Unfortunately, Alexander died on Thanksgiving Day, followed by Tuxsie two days later. A third cat, Big Boy, was hospitalized and tested positive for the bird flu virus but is now recovering after receiving treatment.
Following the incident, Journell is seeking compensation from Raw Farm for the medical expenses incurred in treating his cats. The owner of Raw Farm, Mark McAfee, has disputed the claim that the virus could have affected the cats, citing preliminary research. However, experts have confirmed that cats can develop neurological issues and die from consuming raw milk contaminated with the bird flu virus.
Since early December, nearly a dozen cats in California have died after consuming raw milk or raw pet food contaminated with the virus. This outbreak follows a larger spread of the bird flu virus in dairy cows across the United States, affecting numerous dairy herds, particularly in California.
Health officials have issued warnings against consuming raw milk due to the risk of infection with bird flu and other pathogens. They have also advised pet owners to avoid feeding unpasteurized milk and raw meat diets to their animals to prevent further outbreaks.
Despite his belief in the health benefits of raw milk, Journell has decided to refrain from consuming it for the foreseeable future, given the tragic consequences he faced. He continues to grapple with the emotional toll of losing his pets and hopes to raise awareness about the risks associated with raw milk consumption.
