Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

Dr. TanDY

Mammals Not Considered Bird Flu Carriers, U.N. Reports
Birds remain primary transmitters

Source: USINFO.STATE.GOV

By Charlene Porter
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington – Domestic cats are not playing a significant role in the transmission of avian influenza, even though several feline cases of the disease have been reported.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reported April 13 that epidemiological data show that domestic and wild birds remain the primary transmitters of the bird flu. As many as 50 nondomestic bird species are vulnerable to infection, according to the statement, but “aquatic birds play a major role.”

In February, German health officials confirmed the H5N1 strain of avian flu as the cause of a cat’s death on the Baltic Sea island of Ruegen. Authorities theorized that the cat had contracted the disease by eating an infected bird, thus suggesting that the virus might be introduced into the food chain, creating vulnerabilities for any variety of predatory animals, or humans in contact with them.

Earlier cases had introduced the possibility. Captive tigers at a Thailand zoo died in 2004, after being infected with H5N1 by sick birds that had been fed to the big cats. Cases of infected civet cats had been detected elsewhere in Asia.

Infection of the domestic cat in Germany drew a swift response from the European Commission in early March.

“No H5N1 infection has ever occurred in humans due to animals other than domestic poultry,” according to a European Commission statement of March 1. “Current knowledge suggests that the disease in carnivores such as cats is a ‘cul de sac’ [dead end] of the infection that has not lead to an increase in the risk posed by this virus for animal or public health.”

However, the European Commission did recommend that pet owners take a few precautions – prevent contact between wild birds and cats and dogs, and seek veterinary attention for any sick pet.