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Warpy

(113,130 posts)
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 11:08 AM Jul 2023

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

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.

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Mysterious Spread of Bird Flu in Cats in Poland, WHO Reports (Original Post) Warpy Jul 2023 OP
Might be a good idea to post this in GD, too. wnylib Jul 2023 #1
It will drop like a stone in GD Warpy Jul 2023 #2
You are right. It would get lost in GD. wnylib Jul 2023 #3

wnylib

(24,393 posts)
1. Might be a good idea to post this in GD, too.
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 11:17 AM
Jul 2023

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

wnylib

(24,393 posts)
3. You are right. It would get lost in GD.
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 11:50 AM
Jul 2023

I just saw it in Pets. Thanks.

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

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