Mysterious Spread of Bird Flu in Cats in Poland, WHO Reports

[Warpy]

Poland is the first country to report "high numbers" of cats infected with bird flu across a large area, the WHO said Monday, adding that the risk of human infection remained low.

​The World Health Organization said that since Polish health authorities informed it last month of unusual cat deaths across the country, 29 cats had tested positive for H5N1 bird flu.
-----------"The source of the exposure of cats to the virus is currently unknown and epizootic investigations are ongoing," WHO said in a statement.

​Some cats developed severe symptoms including difficulty in breathing, bloody diarrhoea and neurological signs, with rapid deterioration and death in some cases.

https://www.sciencealert.com/mysterious-spread-of-bird-flu-in-cats-in-poland-who-reports

H5N1 going from birds to mammals is bad news, and to companion mammals is worse news. It's another reason to keep the kitty indoors with a window seat for bird watching. So far the number is very small, but we know how that can go.

[wnylib]

1. Might be a good idea to post this in GD, too.

Give a heads up to cat owners, and to everyone in general since bird flu has now crossed into mammals.

[Warpy]

2. It will drop like a stone in GD

I might cross post to Pets. Thanx.

[wnylib]

3. You are right. It would get lost in GD.

I just saw it in Pets. Thanks.

This is scary news. A heads up for the next possible epidemic if it crosses into humans.