"Rats in Riverside County are the latest mammal species to be infected with H5N1 bird flu. Identification of virus in rats raises concerns about potential infection pathways to people and their pets"
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture has added black rats to the growing list of mammals that have been infected by H5N1 bird flu.
The rats were located in Riverside County, and news reports suggest they were living in an area where two infected poultry farms had recently been identified.
The discovery of H5N1 in black rats — a typically urban species — provides another route for potential exposure to humans and their pets. The virus can be transmitted via droppings, urine, blood and saliva. The rats also provide a vessel for the virus to move between farms and houses."
Susanne Rust reports for the Los Angeles Times February 21, 2025.
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