Bird flu in domestic cats; experts warn

 

 

A deadly bird flu is spreading in wild and domestic birds around the world. Although it does not spread to humans, there are rare reports of human infection with the virus. Experts have identified that the virus is most likely to spread to humans from domestic cats. As part of the investigation, it was found that there has been a significant increase in infections in domestic cats and other feline species. Although bird flu is a worrying disease, infection in domestic animals such as cats is rare. But new research warns that the virus is spreading rapidly.

A review published in the Open Forum Infectious Diseases on May 7 said that more than half of indoor and outdoor cats have been confirmed to be infected with the bird flu virus. The H5N1 strain has been confirmed in cats, experts warn. The trend points to an increasing risk of the virus spreading from animals to humans.

H5N1 has been increasingly reported in domestic cats in the United States. According to the US Department of Agriculture, 126 cats have been confirmed to be infected with the virus since 2022. About half of these cases were reported in 2024. Meanwhile, bird flu infections in cats have not been officially reported in Canada. But the possibility of more reports is not ruled out, said Professor Shayan Sharif of the University of Guelph. A dog has been confirmed dead from avian influenza in Oshawa, he says, and it's a warning sign.

Bird flu has been confirmed in other domesticated and wild mammals in Canada, raising concerns about the virus's ability to spread to more species.