Tragic Misstep: California Man’s Quest for Pet Health Ends in Heartbreak as Bird Flu-Laden Raw Milk Claims Cats’ Lives

In a somber twist of fate, a California man’s attempt to bolster his beloved pets’ health led to an unforeseen and heartbreaking tragedy—two of his cats succumbed after consuming raw milk tainted with the bird flu virus. Joseph Journell, 56, from San Bernardino, mourns the loss of his feline companions while grappling with the haunting realization of his own inadvertent role in their demise.

Journell recounts the anguish of losing Alexander, a 14-year-old tabby, and Tuxsie, a 4-year-old tuxedo cat, within days of each other in late November. “It’s horrible when you realize that you’re the one that actually gave them the milk that killed them,” he says, his voice tinged with remorse.

The controversial raw milk, produced by Raw Farm in Fresno, was on the radar for health officials, who pulled it from store shelves in December after detecting the H5N1 bird flu virus. For the cats, all of whom were indoor dwellers with no exposure to wild birds, the infected milk was the only plausible source of the virus.

In a desperate bid to extend Alexander’s life—who was experiencing weight loss—Journell turned to raw milk, swayed by its touted but scientifically dubious “immunity and healing properties.” Tragically, this decision led to Thanksgiving turning into a day of sorrow as Alexander passed away, followed by Tuxsie two days later.

A third feline, Big Boy, endured a harrowing week of hospitalization, tested positive for the virus, and narrowly survived. Despite making it back home, Big Boy now battles blindness and partial paralysis. A fourth cat, Cleo, was spared, having not consumed the milk.

Journell demands recompense from Raw Farm for the staggering $12,000 in veterinary care. However, Mark McAfee, the farm’s owner, contests the claim, arguing against the notion that the virus could remain virulent in milk long after bottling.

Yet, Richard Webby, an influenza expert at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, counters this claim with a stark reminder: “I think the poor cats are the best indicator!” Such painful incidents serve as a cautionary tale—highlighting the erratic survivability of the virus across different milk batches.

The calamity in Journell’s household is mirrored by a broader outbreak, as nearly a dozen cats in California have died under similar circumstances since early December. This follows a massive bird flu outbreak across US dairy herds—more than 900 affected in 16 states, with a heavy concentration in California.

Health authorities sound the alarm, urging against the consumption of raw milk and raw pet diets, citing risks of infection not only with bird flu but a slew of other pathogens as well. The FDA’s recent advisory reiterates, “Cats should not be fed any products from affected farms if those products have not been thoroughly cooked or pasteurized to kill the virus.”

Journell himself fell ill post-exposure, though diagnostic limitations at a local health facility curtailed his ability to confirm a bird flu infection. While he has recuperated, the emotional scars persist, fueled by the uncertainty of his own health scare and the “mental anguish” of his pets’ untimely deaths.

Despite the ordeal, Journell remains a cautious proponent of raw milk’s purported benefits, though he concedes a pause in his consumption: “Not right now,” he reflects, “And not in the foreseeable future.”