Scientists are racing to know how a number of home cats caught and died from chicken flu in Colorado regardless of by no means having been outside.
The US is battling an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza that has now unfold to almost 200 dairy herds and a minimum of 13 US farm staff have additionally contracted the virus since March, over half of that are in Colorado.
In recent times the virus has additionally contaminated all kinds of smaller mammals together with skunks, foxes, hedgehogs, sea lions, and even a polar bear. However it’s the an infection of a minimum of six cats, together with two who lived their entire lives inside, that has state officers fearful as they attempt to piece collectively how the virus is spreading between species.
Cats endure notably badly from H5N1. In earlier outbreaks, contaminated felines have suffered rabies-like signs together with blindness, disorientation, paralysis, problem respiratory, and bloody diarrhoea earlier than dying.
Though there may be clearly numerous virus circulating in Colorado, how indoor cats might need caught chicken flu is unclear.
“It raises many questions on how the virus received inside the homes,” Dr Rick Vivid, an influenza and immunologist skilled, informed The Telegraph.
“Potentialities embrace that the cats might have been fed uncooked milk or meals merchandise that comprise reside virus. The virus is also introduced into the home by individuals who could be contaminated with the virus or have the virus on their garments or sneakers.
“It’s unclear how shut these contaminated animals are to farms with energetic infections, or if the cats reside with farmworkers or contract staff introduced in to assist handle the outbreak,” Dr Vivid defined.
Enjoying cat-and-mouse
Dr Scott Weese, an infectious illness veterinarian, mentioned there are a number of theories on how the cats received contaminated, “none of that are nice.”
One principle is a Tom and Jerry-like situation whereby indoor cats hunt mice round the home that may themselves have caught the an infection from a close-by farm.
“Mice might be contaminated however I’d count on that to primarily be a threat in homes very near poultry or dairy farms with energetic infections, since mice don’t transfer very far,” Dr Weese informed The Telegraph.
“Birds can typically sneak into homes, and consumption of uncooked meat might positively be an possibility since that’s been a reported transmission route in a couple of international locations,” he added.
Final 12 months, a minimum of 12 cats died in Poland after a neighborhood outbreak erupted within the south of the nation. The deaths have been finally traced again to the consumption of uncooked cat meals that contained traces of reside virus from contaminated chickens.
Equally in South Korea, virtually 40 cats died in 2023 after consuming cat meals which contained contaminated duck.
Other than the 2 indoor cats, three of the six who died lived partly outside, and sure contracted the virus by looking contaminated mice or small birds. The sixth cat lived on a farm and sure contracted the virus from consuming contaminated milk from a sick cow.
“We have to make it possible for we’re not lacking different modes of transmission that we’re not conscious of,” mentioned Krutika Kuppalli, a spokesperson for the Infectious Illness Society of America and former WHO medical officer.
“We have to be asking questions like: did these homes solely have cats? Have been there different animals current that might have been uncovered? Have any folks residing in these homes turn into contaminated?” she added.
“There must be much more surveillance and knowledge sharing, as a result of none of those questions are clear in any respect,” Dr Kuppalli mentioned.
Colorado well being officers launched an announcement during which they urged vets to contemplate H5N1 when treating unwell felines, even when the cats don’t reside on or close to farms because of the excessive degree of the virus circulating in Colorado.
Shield your self and your loved ones by studying extra about International Well being Safety
