#17,510
Five days ago, in Media Reports Of Unusual Cat Deaths In Poland, we saw reports of numerous recent cat deaths in Warsaw, Poland from an unknown cause. On Friday Poland's Chief Veterinarian confirmed `Influenza' Confirmed In Some Recently Reported Feline Deaths, but provided no specifics.
With avian H5 raging in European birds, H5N1 has been understandably at the top of our suspect list.
Over the weekend we've seen media reports indicating that H5N1 had been found in 3 cats, and anecdotal reports of sick or dying cats from outside of Warsaw (see FluTracker's Thread). This morning (shortly after noon in Poland), the Poland's (Chief Veterinary) website published the following (3rd) statement.
(Translated)
Communication of the III CVO on the disease of cats
Messages 2023-06-26
The Chief Veterinary Officer informs that:
The results of subsequent tested samples taken from cats from Lublin and Poznań are available.
Until June 26 at 11:00 11 samples were tested at the National Veterinary Institute in Puławy, of which 9 gave a positive result for H5N1 influenza. Positive samples come from Poznań, Tri-City and Lublin. Further detailed studies of the genetic material of viruses are underway. Preliminary research excludes the origin of the influenza virus that has been causing gulls to become ill in recent weeks.
Today, a sanitary and epizootic meeting was held, where a plan for further action was discussed.
Work is underway to establish a protocol for monitoring the disease in cats in order to collect more detailed data on its course and occurrence.
The source of infection has not yet been identified.
By analyzing data from other countries, it was established that the rules to prevent possible contact of cats with the virus should be based on:
Any new guidelines as well as announcements in the case will be regularly published on the official website ( https://www.wetgiw.gov.pl/main/komunikaty ), in order to provide you with current information .
- Keeping cats indoors if possible. Any release of the animal to the balcony or terrace should be preceded by washing the substrates with standard detergents;
- Preventing contact between cats and other wild animals, including birds;
- Preventing cats from coming into contact with footwear that is used outside the home;
- Feeding cats only food from known sources;
- Washing hands after contact with animals (maintaining standard hygiene rules after coming from the court).
Notably, not only has H5N1 been confirmed in 9 of 11 cats tested, these samples have come from three widely separated regions of the country (Tri-City, Lubin, and Poznań).
Although we've seen cats infected with H5N1 in the past (going back 20 years - see HPAI H5: Catch As Cats Can), including recent reports from the United States (see Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center (NVDC) Report: 2 Domestic Cats Infected With HPAI H5N1), this appears to be an unusually large, and widespread outbreak.
For now, the $64 question is how these cats are being infected, and whether cat-to-cat transmission is occurring.
Stay tuned.
