Posted on 03/01/2006 6:02:38 PM PST by blam
French cat lovers panic after bird flu death
By Colin Randall
(Filed: 02/03/2006)
France's pet owners reacted with panic yesterday to the confirmation that a cat found dead in Germany was killed by bird flu.
Its animal protection society, the SPA, was bombarded with calls from people worried at their pet catching the disease's lethal H5N1 strain. Some abandoned their cats.
"We are getting calls from cat owners wanting to know if there are risks," said Serge Belais, the society's president. "People are panicking."
He had no numbers of abandoned cats but said: "The risk is that we'll see the deluge in the days or weeks to come."
The German cat was found at the weekend on the island of Ruegen, where more than 100 wild birds have tested positive for H5N1. The cat had probably eaten part of an infected bird.
The French government has already asked the food safety authority to study the level of risk to cats and the prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, appealed to cat owners yesterday to stop pets straying into any area where bird flu is suspected or confirmed.
Mr Belais said the SPA was urging the government to stop French mayors over-reacting with "disproportionate and useless" operations to round up and destroy stray cats. The risk of infection was minimal but he advised owners to keep cats indoors.
Tweety's Revenge!
French Panic...
when dont they panic
Hint: Keep your kitty inside and away from the canary...
Round up the strays?? Cat herding *ping*.
Have they surrendered yet?
Bunch of pussies.
They eat pussy cats too?
I had a little bird.
It's name was Enza.
I opened up the window,
and in flew Enza.
Children's rhyme from the time of the Spanish Flu.
Children's rhyme from the time of the Great Plague.
Ring around the rosey.
A pocket full of poseys
Ashes, Ashes, we all fall down.
Refers to the discoloration around the plague Buboes.
Nosegays of flowers were used to cover the stench of death.
Bodies were burned to prevent contagion.
Children don't miss much.
when muslim hordes are invading their country.
I know this as, upstairs, downstair, all fall down
I asked an English friend of mine what it meant and he said that the wealthier always lived upstairs and this implied that everyone was affected, rich and poor.
"Le meow. Le purrr"
A lot of those nursery rhymes had connections to Middle Ages, what was three blind mice? Do you know?
I know this as, upstairs, downstair, all fall down
I asked an English friend of mine what it meant and he said that the wealthier always lived upstairs and this implied that everyone was affected, rich and poor
Interesting connotation! I also remember is as Ashes, Ashes ?
Have we finally found something the French can defend? /sarc
Maybe a different verse (is that the correct word?)
I admit, I've heard ashes too. That may be from cremations?
Ring a ring o' roses,
A pocket full o' posies,
One for me, and one for you,
And one for little Moses--
Hasher, Hasher, Hasher, all fall down.
Ring, a ring o' roses,
A pocket full o' posies;
Up-stairs and down-stairs,
In my lady's chamber--
Husher! Husher! Cuckoo!
Ring, a ring a row-o,
See the children go-o,
Sit below the goose-berry bush;
Hark! they all cry Hush! hush! hush!
Sitty down, sit down.
Duzzy, duzzy gander,
Sugar, milk, and candy;
Hatch-u, hatch-u, all fall down together.
Windy, windy weather,
Cold and frosty weather,
When the wind blows
We all blow together.
I saw Peter!
When did you meet him?
Merrily, cherrily
All fall down.
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