Bird Flu Found in Cats in Asia

Reuters ^ | Fri February 20, 2004 | By Vissuta Pothong

[Aracelis]

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Two domestic cats in Thailand have died of the same bird flu that has killed at least 22 people in Asia, a veterinarian said on Friday, a day after Canada announced its first case of a different strain of the virus.

The discoveries have alarmed scientists, who now fear the disease can spread as easily between species as it has between countries.

They said on Friday developing human vaccines must be a priority to prevent a flu pandemic like the one in 1918 that killed up to 50 million people worldwide.

"It is a pandemic threat constantly simmering," Dr Marion Koopmans, of the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands, told Reuters in London.

China confirmed two more suspected outbreaks of the influenza H5N1 virus in two provinces on Friday, and Thai officials said the virus had reappeared in two provinces that had been declared under control.

With the virus spreading at an unprecedented rate through poultry, and with 22 people dead in Asia, researchers warned it poses a substantial threat to human health.

In two reports in the Lancet medical journal, Koopmans and Professor Malik Peiris of the University of Hong Kong, who both dealt with previous cases of animal-to-human transmission of flu, described why the current avian outbreak is so dangerous.

Koopmans said it is possible the virus may not be completely controlled in poultry because it is so widespread, which furthered the case for making a vaccine a top priority.

An Australian government research lab said a locally-developed drug, Relenza, used for treating human influenza, had proven effective against bird flu in laboratory tests.

CATS DIED NEAR INFECTED FARM

The virus has also crossed the species barrier to domestic animals, and in Bangkok on Friday scientists confirmed the deaths of two house cats. MORE

[per loin]

From farther down in that article:

____________________

As news of the virus infection in cats spread, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, cautioned Thais not to feed their pets uncooked chicken meat.

"Please don't panic," Thaksin told reporters in Bangkok. But he added: "If animals eat raw infected chicken, they will have no immunity."

Another veterinarian said it was unclear whether the dead cats had eaten cooked or raw meat. Health experts say well-cooked chicken and eggs pose no danger.

[Cold Heart]

First it was red meat and now we're supposed to avoid the two most common white meats.

[TommyDale]

News flash: "Cats eat birds!"

[TommyDale]

...and the way they eat domestic animals in Asia, such as cats and dogs, probably no one is totally safe.

[TommyDale]

"Another veterinarian said it was unclear whether the dead cats had eaten cooked or raw meat."

I would definitely tell my cat to be sure and cook his dinner well.

[Aracelis]

Another veterinarian said it was unclear whether the dead cats had eaten cooked or raw meat. Health experts say well-cooked chicken and eggs pose no danger.

I have yet to meet a cat who knew how to cook.

[Aracelis]

First it was red meat and now we're supposed to avoid the two most common white meats.

One of my friends at work is a vegetarian. She finds the whole issue quite amusing.

[Levante]

An annonymous orange tabby interviewed in the streets of Rangoon had this to say:

"It's the birds' fault, I tell ya! The're so damn TASTY!"

[per loin]

I would definitely tell my cat to be sure and cook his dinner well.

Excellent, but to be safe, cook your cat thoroughly before eating it.

[Cold Heart]

I, forgot, the green onions were in there somewhere too.