For First Time, Flu Spreads From Birds

Yahoo News ^ | Melissa Eddy

[Kjobs]

VIENNA, Austria - Three cats have tested positive for the deadly strain of bird flu in Austria's first reported case of the disease spreading to an animal other than a bird, state authorities said Monday.

The sick cats were among 170 living at an animal shelter where the disease was detected in chickens last month, authorities said.

The World Health Organization called bird flu a greater global challenge than any previous infectious disease, costing global agriculture more than $10 billion and affecting the livelihoods of 300 million farmers.

[snip]

Dr. Margaret Chan, who is spearheading WHO's efforts against bird flu, told disease experts meeting in Geneva to discuss bird flu preparations that the organization's top priority was to keep the deadly strain from mutating into a form easily passed between humans. That could trigger a global pandemic.

Since February, the virus has spread to birds in 17 new countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, she said.

"We truly feel that this present threat and any other threat like it is likely to stretch our global systems to the point of collapse," said Dr. Mike Ryan, WHO's director of epidemic and pandemic alert and response.

[Termite_Commander]

Many a time I've asked myself, "Wear our the cats???", only to find them stuned and suffering from Waffle-Kitty Syndrome.

[Travis McGee]

Stanford edu has a terrific website on the Spanish Influenza. Even a mort rate of 1-5% has terrible social/economic costs. 5% or higher would probably cause a global economic crash.

[BufordP]

Ping.

[vetvetdoug]

Is a waffle kitty the same as a sail cat?

[OB1kNOb]

"Ummm, how do you score Jesus?....."

I scored Him as, "Been there, done that, overcame it. - Total Victory." ;-)

[Palladin]

I hope you know I am just teasing all the catlovers here.

Please don't sic the Viking Kitties on me.

[GladesGuru]

"Is a waffle kitty the same as a sail cat?"

The 'flip side' of either is the other.

;-)

[grey_whiskers]

I scored Him as, "Been there, done that, overcame it. - Total Victory." ;-)

How about "sudden Life" overtime ;-)

Cheers!

[Lauren BaRecall]

LOL! Thanks!

[Lauren BaRecall]

I'm glad to know - thanks for clarifying! But now you have to explain it to Natasha....

...She's WAIT-ing....

[Bob]

Wouldn't it be great if the bird flu just crosses over to cats, and no other species?

Think of it-- a world without cats!!!

Beware of the Viking Kitties. :=)

[Palladin]

Thanks. I'll see Natasha in my dreams...or nightmares.

[Bellflower]

Not the raptured.