LIs France heading towards a resurgence of cases of avian flu, an outbreak of which was recently discovered? In any case, recent developments in the transmission of the H5N1 virus could further increase the risks. A Toulouse researcher was interested in the transmission of avian flu in cats, reports La Dépêche du Midi. And his study reveals surprises.
Pierre Bessière, virologist at the National Veterinary School of Toulouse, has been focusing for a year on cats and their risk of contamination by the H5N1 virus. He observed that, since 2016, an avian strain has spread rapidly among migratory birds, with mortality rates for certain species, such as guinea fowl, reaching up to 100%. And who better than a small feline to hunt these birds?
ALSO READ Why are young people affected by the flu this winter?Out of a sample of 578 animals, the scientist found that about 1% were infected. The figure may seem ridiculous or trivial: but with around 15 million cats in the country, Pierre Bessière estimates that there are “probably several tens of thousands of felines who have contracted the disease in France. The situation is worrying,” he worries.
The mutating avian virus
What catches the researcher’s attention are also the symptoms in animals. Loss of balance, fever, convulsions… If mortality remains low, these symptoms can be confusing. […] Read more
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