Cats Don't Catch Bird Flu Easily

Featured Article
Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 01 Mar 2006 - 15:00 PDT

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In the whole world, just ten cats have been infected with bird flu. Bearing in mind that cats like to catch and eat birds, this is a tiny number. Since 2003 hundreds of millions of birds have died as a result of H5N1 bird flu infection.

Experts think a cat runs the highest risk of infection when it eats (parts of) a dead infected bird. Even then, say veterinarians and virologists, the chances of infection are tiny.

Can a cat pass the virus on to a human?

Millions of cats worldwide have caught and touched birds, many of them infected birds. We have not heard of one case of a cat passing on bird flu to a human. If there is a risk, it is too small to worry about - you are more likely to trip over your cat and hit your head against the wall.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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