A domestic cat in Washington County recently tested positive for bird flu and had to be euthanized, the Oregon Department of Agriculture said.

The cat roamed outdoors and was around wild ducks and geese, which can carry the virus, the agency said in a statement Friday. It was examined by a veterinarian after it developed a fever, runny nose, showed signs of lethargy and had difficulty breathing.

After the vet diagnosed the cat with pneumonia, it was tested for a virulent strain of bird flu known as H5N1.

Andrea Cantu-Schomus, an agriculture department spokeswoman, told the Capital Chronicle that the cat was so ill that it had to be euthanized.

This is the third cat to die because of bird flu. In 2022, two domestic cats became sick after eating raw food contaminated with the virus.

Domestic and wild cats are particularly susceptible to the virus, including tigers, mountain lions and lynx. Dogs can also contract bird flu though they appear to be less susceptible to it. Cantu-Schomus said state officials have had no reports of bird flu in dogs in Oregon.

They advised cat owners, especially, to protect their pets from H5N1 by not feeding them raw food or treats and keeping them away from wild birds or other wild animals. Owners should also take basic safety precautions like washing hands after touching raw meat or poultry and changing clothes and shoes after interacting with potentially sick animals.

H5N1 is typically spread by wild birds. Oregon officials noticed in October an uptick of cases among migrating birds. Bird flu has spread to poultry operations, affecting 136 million birds, and nearly 930 dairy herds. It’s also infected a host of other animals, including a pig in Oregon last October. It’s also spread to 67 people, and one person earlier this month died in Louisiana.

In December, Oregon officials started testing the state’s milk supply. The virus is killed by pasteurization.

Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.

Gov. Tina Kotek issued a reminder against election violence on Tuesday, saying any attempts to undermine the election will be stopped.

In an email to the Capital Chronicle, spokesperson Roxy Mayer said any voter intimidation or criminal acts aimed at undermining the election would not be tolerated and that the governor’s office is closely monitoring the situation, working with local, state and federal agencies to ensure Oregonians can safely vote.

Portland has a history of election violence. Last week, an arsonist attacked a drop box outside Multnomah County Elections offices in southeast Portland before dawn. Only three ballots were damaged but could still be counted. A drop box in Vancouver was also attacked, and hundreds of ballots were destroyed because the fire suppressant there didn’t work. That was the second ballot drop box attack in Vancouver last month.

Police believe all three attacks are connected. Security footage obtained by OPB show a dark-colored Volvo pulling up to the Portland drop box, with the suspect spending about 30 seconds attaching an incendiary device to it. The car speeds away, smoke spews out of the box and it burst into flames but was quickly extinguished by fire suppressant inside the box. Police suspect an unidentified man in his 30s or 40s was responsible

Police in Portland are on alert Tuesday – and will be throughout the week – for any unrest over the results. Kotek can deploy the Oregon National Guard if needed, Mayer told the Capital Chronicle, but has not activated them yet.

“They are trained and ready to support local and state law enforcement if they reach their capacity to respond and they request National Guard assistance, just as they do for wildland fire, floods or search and rescue support,” the statement said. “Should the Oregon National Guard be activated, the role and number of troops would be determined according to the needs requested by law enforcement.”

The governor’s office is working with other government and community leaders to promote a peaceful election.

On Monday, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management activated the state’s emergency center, which acts as a central hub for various agencies during any violent or disastrous events. The center is coordinating with tribal, local, state and federal authorities and acts as an information-sharing hub to maintain “situational awareness” throughout Tuesday and manage resources on the ground.

Oregon State Police, Secretary of State’s Office, Oregon Department of Justice and Oregon State Fire Marshal are among the agencies active in the emergency center and are in a heightened state of alert to respond to any potential disruptions.

Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com. Follow Oregon Capital Chronicle on Facebook and X.