The H5N1 strain of avian influenza might not be in the news as much these days, but it’s still widely circulating among wild birds. And these birds can transmit the virus to other animals, including dairy cows and cats. Research out this week appears to confirm that cats can subsequently spread H5N1 to humans. Federal and local health officials reported such a case Thursday, involving a veterinary worker in Los Angeles, California. The person tested positive for antibodies to H5N1 months after handling a cat infected with the virus. Though the person never experienced symptoms, the case shows that H5N1 and other bird flus can reach humans in more ways than one. “These findings provide evidence of zoonotic transmission of influenza A(H5N1) virus from domestic cats to humans,” the authors wrote in their paper, published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. A novel transmission route Avian influenza is a serious and growing public health threat.…