According to the World Health Organization (WHO), bird flu has caused the deaths of numerous cats in Poland. This marks the first instance of a large number of infected cats across a wide area within a country. The WHO was alerted to the unusual deaths in cats by Polish authorities on June 27. Upon investigation, the WHO discovered that 29 out of 47 samples tested positive for bird flu, also known as avian flu.
Starting from late 2021, there has been a significant increase in bird flu outbreaks among poultry and wild birds worldwide. The WHO states that along with infections in wild bird and domestic poultry populations, there have been more frequent detections of bird flu in non-avian species, including wild animals, marine mammals, and occasionally, farmed or captive species.
The source of the infection in the cats in Poland remains unknown, as per the WHO. However, the health organization suggests several possibilities for the source of infection. Cats may have had direct or indirect contact with infected birds or their environments, consumed infected birds, or consumed food contaminated with the virus.
Out of the 25 cats for which information is available, two were outdoor cats, 18 were indoor cats with access to a balcony, terrace, or backyard, and five were indoor cats without access to the outdoors. Seven cats reportedly had the opportunity for contact with wild birds. Fourteen cats were euthanized, while 11 died naturally, with the last death reported on June 30. Post-mortem examinations on a small number of cats indicate the presence of pneumonia.
Positive samples were reported from 13 different areas in Poland. While sporadic cases of bird flu in cats have been reported previously, this is the first report of a significant number of infected cats over a wide geographic area within a country, according to the WHO.
Some cats displayed severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, bloody diarrhea, and neurological signs, leading to rapid deterioration and death in certain cases. Out of the total cats studied, 20 exhibited neurological signs, 19 had respiratory signs, and 17 showed both neurological and respiratory signs.
The WHO stated that there have been no documented cases of human infections resulting from contact with infected cats. Therefore, the risk of human infections from exposure to infected cats is low for the general population, and low to moderate for cat owners and individuals who have occupational exposure to infected cats without the use of appropriate personal protective equipment.
Recent reports have raised concerns about the increasing number of mammals infected with bird flu. Experts have suggested that pigs, which are susceptible to flu viruses from both humans and birds, could potentially act as a “mixing vessel,” leading to the emergence of mutated viruses that may be lethal to humans.
While some cases of human bird flu have been reported in countries like Cambodia, they remain rare. In the past year, bird flu outbreaks have been reported in mammals in 10 different countries, including farmed mink in Spain, seals in the U.S., and sea lions in Peru and Chile.
(Disclaimer: This article is a creative and unique rewrite of the original content utilizing improved syntax, tone, and SEO. It is 100% human-written and aims to provide a smarter and more engaging version of the information while maintaining its accuracy.)
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
