Posted on 12/27/2024 12:20:19 PM PST by Red Badger
An animal sanctuary in Shelton, Wash., is under quarantine after a bird flu outbreak killed 20 big cats at the facility over the past month.
The Wild Felid Advocacy Center of Washington called the deaths "heartbreaking," confirming the virus has claimed more than half its animals, including four cougars and a half-Bengal tiger, since late November.
"Our sanctuary is under quarantine to protect our remaining animals and prevent further spread," the center said in a statement, adding it will remain closed to the public until further notice.
The sanctuary said the outbreak may have been caused by respiratory secretions passed from infected birds to the cats or by contaminated meat fed to the cats. It said bird flu poses a serious risk to felines, often progressing from mild symptoms to fatal pneumonia within 24 hours.
The first cat, a cougar, died on Nov. 23 after showing signs of the illness. The virus then quickly sickened many other animals across the sanctuary. While some of the cats shared a wall between their habitats, they did not have direct contact.
The sanctuary's 17 surviving animals — cougars, bobcats, servals, and tigers — remain under close observation.
In response, the sanctuary removed 8,000 pounds of food from storage and began deep cleaning, but the nonprofit says the measures have strained its finances. "The mounting medical costs, even at discounted rates, are significant," it said, appealing for donations to cover expenses.
The outbreak comes amid rising concerns over bird flu in the U.S.
Earlier this month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency due to its spread among dairy cattle, and outbreaks have been reported in wild and domestic bird populations across multiple states.
A brand of cat food also said it was recalling a line of its products after authorities linked the death of a cat to a batch of feed contaminated with bird flu.
The brand, Northwest Naturals, said it was advising people to throw out two-pound bags of its Feline Turkey Recipe that have a best-by date between May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026, after the bags tested positive for virulent bird flu.
Experts warn that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is becoming more prevalent, driven by migratory bird patterns.
While the virus primarily affects birds, it has shown the capacity to infect mammals, including domestic pets and wildlife, under certain conditions.
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the first severe human case of bird flu in the U.S. — a Louisiana resident who was hospitalized after being exposed to backyard flocks.
They’ll never quit.
We’ve all seen this. It ends with them saying get back here, I’ll bite you to death
I might live to see monkeys as pets at this rate of ‘crisis.’
/s
I know the problem, when you concentrate living spaces for animals that are meant to be wild, they get sick and share it. Leave them be to roam free, to live and die as nature intended.....and allow hunting.
Hmmm.... a non-profit... and “by contaminated meat fed to the cats”. Fed to the cats, eh? I smell another leftist rat scamdemic brewing. They are, after all, pretty desperate right about now.
It said it was bird flu. Probably a bird was flying around sneezing everywhere.
Sounds like the death of the cats means big money savings.
it would be more informative if the type of avian flu was noted. H5Nx/H5N6 are prevalent in Eastern Canada/China; China also has H3N8, which they have failed to control. Just as the US has failed to control clade 2.3.4.4b viruses which started circulating in the US in 2021 and have gained much ground since.
There’s no indication what type of ‘contaminated meat’ was fed to the OP cats - or how that meat was stored (fresh delivery? frozen? shat on by birds? rats?) but to know would be helpful. Also helpful would be a CDC that did something besides write reports after the fact and delay transmitting their findings to the public at large.....
“Fatal systemic influenza infection developed in domestic cats fed raw (unpasteurized) colostrum and milk from affected cows.” (50% mortality) and the viruses have jumped to human, wild mammals and marine mammals (such as sea lions). In cats, the viruses caused microscopic lesions (meningoencephalitis/pneumonia/myocarditis)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/30/7/24-0508_article
Cher should be warned.
How so?
The US is involved to the extent that the facility is licensed so they can keep
wild animals that are native to the US.
At first COVID-19 wasn’t a big deal but soon became one when Trump became President.........
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.