We have been covering the outbreak of the bird flu for over 2 years.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI or H5N1) is a severe and contagious viral disease that affects both domestic and wild birds. I recently reported that California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an emergency declaration on the state due to a critical case involving an elderly patient with preexisting conditions. This is despite it causing traditional flu-like symptoms in cows, and very minor symptoms like pink eye in humans (with no signs of human-to-human transmission).

However, other animals have not had such limited effects when infected. For example, over 17,000 southern elephant seal pups were found dead on Argentina’s Valdés Peninsula due to HPAI.

Now there is a disturbing report from Washington State that 20 big cats, including a half-Bengal tiger and four cougars, died after being infected by H5N1.