Cats Don't Catch Bird Flu Easily
Article Date: 01 Mar 2006 - 15:00pm (UK)
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
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
posted by Klip7 at
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