Bird Flu in North America? From CBC

[Catty1]

Let's start educating our friends and neighbours now!


http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/03/09/bird-flu-americas060309.html

[Kirsten]

Scary, indeed! But yes, it is very likely that the virus will come with the migratory birds sooner or later, just as they brought it to Europe only a couple of weeks ago.

I'm also concerned to read about the H5N1-positive stone marten in Germany. This is the first time I hear about this, and I'm on my way now to find out where exactly it was... :(

And how sad to read about all the abandoned cats in France! You can see the same happening here in Germany, too!

Edit:

Well, the marten lived on Ruegen, too; where also the three infected cats have been found. Ruegen must really be badly contaminated with the virus! Good thing is that Ruegen is an island. Well, the birds may be able to leave the island, but at least not the mammals.

What concerns me is that their agriculture minister has now instructed to catch all the outdoor cats. No idea what happens to them after that! :(

Kirsten

[kb2yjx]

Catty1, thank you for the link to this story!!! I have sent it to Barry at work(at the "farm"), so his boss can see it. This is getting scarier by the second. Barry's boss said to start stocking up with canned food to hold you for 6 months!!!! His idea is not to have to leave the house thus decreasing one's chances of exposure to the virus. I do not even want to think how much food and water I would need for 8 cats, Barry, and me!!! I need a BIGER basement. I have an emergency kit if we ever had to evacuate, but nothing along the size of 6 months of supplies!!!
Kirsten, I do not want to even think what will happen to the stray cats in Germany!!!

[Catty1]

I think the point here is to NOT panic and to get as many facts as possible.

This is to educate ourselves and others ahead of time.

As one person mentioned, during the Black Plague in Europe centuries ago, the cats were killed as being the carriers. But the real plague spread because the rats' predators had been removed.

Let's remember that it is BIRD flu, and the STRAY cats that died did so because they KILLED an infected bird.

Remove the cats, and you get a lot more sick birds.

JMO

Candace

[kimlovescats]

It was just on our local news tonight, that we should start collecting canned goods and dry boxed milk ... just in case. I'm going to try to start doing that! I'd say getting some medical masks would be a good idea too, for when you absolutely half to go out during an epidemic. This is scary indeed. :(

[Craftlady]

Personally at this point in time we all have a greater risk of being killed in a car accident than being killed by bird flu.
The media needs to be more responsible in their reporting, telling people to start collecting can goods and box milk is start of inducing panic in my opinion.

[Catty1]

I agree, Craftlady!

We have a heads-up to start educating OURSELVES and others about the facts. Yes, people have died from this. Just over 100 - but look at the total population of even one country where this has happened, and probably more people DID die in car accidents!

This is definitely a time to teach our outdoor cats to be indoor ones. Now THERE'S a thread! The cats that have died of this flu, so far, are the strays that hunted the birds and killed them. Direct contact.

Let's turn on our brains and search engines and turn OFF the media for a bit!

Catty1

[Barbara]

Up to now 96 persons out of 6 billion have been killed by bird flu- everyone will know that this is nothing....

At the moment there is no evidence that humans can get infected easily. Some of the people who died had food containing raw blood. Others infected had slaughtered birds with the bird flu- but regarding the fact how many birds may be carriers this number is still very low.

It is not even sure whether all birds (like small migratory birds) will be carriers although it is proven that chicken and turkey are.

This could change if the virus mutated so that it would be easier to infect humans. And then the epidemy could happen- but it is not sure now.

It looks as if the virus can infect cats and few other mammals who eat infected birds and that is very sad- but at the moment this is just another reason for keeping the kitties indoors.

All those people who abandon their pets or ministers who talk about killing are by far over reacting.