Polish authorities are currently urging caution: the bird flu virus has been detected in several cats. The World Health Organization (WHO) speaks of “sporadic infections”.
Several cats have contracted bird flu in Poland. As reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), as of July 11, H5N1 had been detected in 29 of a total of 47 samples.
Samples are from 46 cats and one home-held desert lynx (caracal). According to this, 11 of the cats died as a result of the infection, 14 others were euthanized.
It is not yet known how the animals got infected, writes the WHO. Contact with infected birds is a possibility. Genome analyzes had shown that the animals were infected with the H5N1 lineage 2.3.4.4b, which is currently widespread in birds.
Bird flu: “Sporadic infections of cats”
The WHO communication states: “Sporadic infections of cats with the A(H5N1) virus have been reported before, but this is the first report of a large number of infected cats in a large geographic area within a country.”
It is not yet clear whether people have been infected by sick cats. There are no reports on this. The risk of such an infection has so far been assessed as low to moderate.
The first reports of a mysterious cat disease were shared in a veterinary forum in Poland in mid-June. The symptoms mentioned were stiffness of the limbs, shortness of breath, convulsions and epileptic seizures.
Polish authorities urge caution
The cats that died from bird flu came from distant regions: Danzig (Gdansk) in the north, Poznan (Poznan) in the west and Lublin in the east of the country. The virus has been detected in both indoor and outdoor cats.
Polish authorities, meanwhile, are advising owners not to bring their cats into contact with wild birds or animals. If the cat has access to the balcony, the floor should be disinfected beforehand. Street shoes should also be kept out of the reach of cats.
Sources used: WHO
Read more on Techzle.com:
- Hirschhausen: “By far the deadliest threat of the climate crisis”
- Supermarket check: Greenpeace denounces meat offer
- Animals suffer when it’s hot: Here’s how you can help them