H5N1 in Polish cats (???)

[url]https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2023/06/poland-vet-chief-h5n1-confirmed-in-dead.html[/url] or https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2023/06/poland-vet-chief-h5n1-confirmed-in-dead.html ;

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. 

and [url]https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2023/06/a-brief-history-of-avian-influenza-in.html[/url] or https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2023/06/a-brief-history-of-avian-influenza-in.html 

[url]https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2023/06/articles/animals/cats/h5n1-avian-flu-spillover-in-cats-in-polandupdate/[/url] or https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2023/06/articles/animals/cats/h5n1-avian-flu-spillover-in-cats-in-polandupdate/ ;

[url]https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/europe/h5n1-tracking/poland/975746-poland-media-reports-of-unusual-cat-deaths-june-21-2023-reportedly-influenza-9-test-positive-for-h5n1-avian-flu?view=stream[/url] or https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/europe/h5n1-tracking/poland/975746-poland-media-reports-of-unusual-cat-deaths-june-21-2023-reportedly-influenza-9-test-positive-for-h5n1-avian-flu?view=stream latest;

Translation Google

Avian flu among cats. Samples were tested

June 26, 2023 / 14:42

In 9 out of 11 samples taken from dead cats, the bird flu virus was confirmed, the Chief Veterinary Officer informed. The research was conducted by the State Veterinary Institute in Puławy.

Among the tested samples there are also those from two cats that died at the Clinic of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin.

- So far, these are the only cases of cats with influenza virus in our Clinic - says Professor Łukasz Adaszek from the Department of Epizootiology and the Clinic of Infectious Diseases at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. – They were infected with the bird flu virus, strain H5N1. It begins with general symptoms, i.e. loss of appetite, apathy, weakness. Later, respiratory symptoms appear, i.e. severe shortness of breath, cough and neurological symptoms, i.e. uneven dilation of the pupils, convulsions.

The remaining samples came from dead cats from the Tri-City and Poznań.

The source of infection in cats is still unknown. Detailed studies of the genetic material of viruses are conducted by the State Veterinary Institute in Puławy.

- Unfortunately, we still have not been able to determine the source of infection - says the director of the National Veterinary Institute in Puławy, Professor Stanisław Winiarczyk. “These virus isolates are currently undergoing molecular characterization so that we have full knowledge of the subtype, type or variant of this virus. This will also be used for the epizootic investigation to determine the source of infection. At this point, we do not yet know where this virus came from, what path it traveled until it reached the cat. One thing we know for sure is that it is not a seagull virus.
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The Chief Veterinary Officer also informed about the sanitary and epizootic meeting that was convened today to discuss further proceedings in the case of cat infections.

DJ, Very likely the most reasonable explanation may be the cats did catch H5N1 from eating infected (and dead ?) birds...No idea how many wild cats, lynx [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynx[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynx and abandoned dogs there are in Poland. Very likely the problem also may be in other East European countries. 

It DOES increase risks for humans....

[url]https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/europe/h5n1-tracking/poland/975746-poland-media-reports-of-unusual-cat-deaths-june-21-2023-reportedly-influenza-ecdc-risk-assessment-offlu-statement?view=stream[/url] or https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/europe/h5n1-tracking/poland/975746-poland-media-reports-of-unusual-cat-deaths-june-21-2023-reportedly-influenza-ecdc-risk-assessment-offlu-statement?view=stream (latest);

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"The course of the disease is electrifying." Avian flu in cats

June 29, 2023 / 17:17

So far, 16 outbreaks of avian influenza virus in cats have been confirmed in Poland, informs the Chief Veterinary Officer. The pathogen was found in 20 out of 33 samples delivered to the National Veterinary Institute in Puławy. Most of the cats died.

The services appeal to the owners to be careful and at the same time reassure: so far no case of transmission of the virus from cat to human has been recorded in the world.

The bird flu virus can be very dangerous

As experts say: the bird flu virus can be very dangerous. In humans, the mortality rate is 50-60%. However, over the years, only 1,000 cases of human infection with the H5N1 (bird flu) virus have been recorded.

- The probability of human disease is negligible, but it is always there. However, special circumstances are needed for this - says prof. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska from the Department of Virology and Immunology of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University. “For example, the transmission of this virus from birds requires very close human presence. Most often, infections occurred in the owners of chicken farms.

However, no such case has been reported with regard to human infection by a cat. Such infection is made difficult because cats do not shed much of this virus. If there are too few of these viruses, the symptoms of the disease do not develop, says Prof. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska.

Samples taken from dead animals are analyzed at the National Veterinary Institute in Puławy. In total, dozens of such samples have been sent there so far.

“This is disturbing news”

“Consecutive, thorough research gives us important information,” says the director of the Institute, Prof. Stanislaw Winiarczyk. – Those viruses that were identified in the samples are the closest to the viruses that were isolated from wild birds and poultry in 2020-2023. They show the highest relationship to the virus that was detected in the white stork at the beginning of June in the Tarnów district. Importantly, molecular analysis indicates the presence of mutations that may enhance the adaptation of the virus to mammals.

This is worrying information, admit veterinarians. It is still not known what was the source of infection in the dead cats.

The course of the disease is electrifying

“The worst thing is not knowing. The course of the disease is staggering - says veterinarian Robert Czerniak from the Lublin Center for Small Animals in Lublin, where one case of an infected cat was recorded. – Symptoms include both upper and lower respiratory tract infection, i.e. pneumonia, but they can also appear in the form of inflammation and dysfunction of other organs and systems, such as the digestive system. However, this applies primarily to neurological symptoms, including convulsive seizures, impaired coordination of movements, and limited consciousness. In addition, a high fever can be a problem.

What's worse, the treatment of this type of cases has so far been only symptomatic and very difficult.

- It was so that some symptoms developed, we "quenched" them to some extent, but others appeared. Unfortunately, it was a slippery slope,” adds Robert Czerniak.
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One of the hypotheses regarding the ways in which cats can be infected with avian flu is that related to the digestive route. – There is an astonishing coincidence in time, because in a short period of time there were outbreaks of infection in cats in remote locations. This would indicate a common denominator, i.e. one or two sources that reached these locations. In my opinion, it could be feed or a batch of infected meat - believes Prof. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska.

However, for now, these are only guesses. The source of infection is to be determined by an epidemiological investigation.

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[url]https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2023/06/articles/animals/cats/h5n1-avian-flu-in-cats-in-poland-another-update-and-musing-about-causes/[/url] or https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2023/06/articles/animals/cats/h5n1-avian-flu-in-cats-in-poland-another-update-and-musing-about-causes/ ;

A mix of these

This might be an explanation for some of the “indoor” cat infections. For example, if there’s a cluster of infections in outdoor cats that’s predominantly or solely bird-to-cat transmission, with maybe some cat-to-cat transmission. But how, if a cat is truly indoor only? Well, it’s maybe a stretch but the picture below of cats facing off through a window is one I put on Twitter the other day, as a reminder that indoor cats need to be vaccinated since they can still have close encounters with outdoor cats. For affected indoor cats, if food is largely ruled out, I’d query the household situation, such as are there screened windows or some other way to have close contact with any outdoor cats (or other cats in the household that do go outside).

Hopefully the investigation will generate some more information. It’s important for us to know more about transmission pathways and risks, both for cat health and to assess risks to other species (including humans).

DJ, Worms & Germs Blog rules out cat food as a main cause...but it could be a mix of infection by eating infected bird(droppings), bird-to-cat spread...cat-to-cat has not been proven yet...

[url]https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2023/06/ecdc-risk-assessment-avian-influenza-in.html[/url] or https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2023/06/ecdc-risk-assessment-avian-influenza-in.html 

For more on the difficulties of detecting novel flu cases in the community, you may wish to revisit UK Novel Flu Surveillance: Quantifying TTD.  

DJ so a few questions;

-Is the spread still ongoing ?

-Is it in cats and birds (with white stork virus very close to the virus detected in infected cats)

-Other countries (Germany, Denmark) will be testing...very likely may detect spread 

-How the virus may develop further (in cats, storks, fox etc)? 

DJ...numbers are not that clear 16 or 20 infected cats ? Very likely more will be detected...(but it could stop without getting much answers...).

[url]https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2023/07/polands-national-veterinary-institute.html[/url] or https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2023/07/polands-national-veterinary-institute.html ;

Missing from this report is any mention of amino acid changes (mutations) that might signal increased adaptation to mammals. Something that has been reported in other feline infections (see EID Journal: HPAI A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b Virus in Domestic Cat, France, 2022). 

This possibility was mentioned in last Friday's ECDC Risk Assessment (see excerpt below).

Media sources from Poland cite the director of the National Veterinary Institute in Puławy stating that "they have detected two mutations that indicate that the A(H5N1) virus is evolving to multiply more easily in mammals". 

I expect we'll get a more detailed analysis in the next couple of days.  In the meantime, while a single source has been implicated, it still isn't clear how both indoor and outdoor cats from across a wide swath of Poland are contracting the virus. 

DJ on the spread;

[url]https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/europe/h5n1-tracking/poland/975746-poland-media-reports-of-unusual-cat-deaths-june-21-2023-reportedly-influenza-ecdc-risk-assessment-offlu-statement?view=stream[/url] or https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/europe/h5n1-tracking/poland/975746-poland-media-reports-of-unusual-cat-deaths-june-21-2023-reportedly-influenza-ecdc-risk-assessment-offlu-statement?view=stream latest;

Bird flu in poultry meat from shops to dying cats

Poultry meat can be a source of the bird flu virus, which has recently affected and died many cats in Poland. - Our results show the presence of the virus in one of the five delivered meat samples that sick cats received. At the moment, we are unable to say where it came from in the meat and whether it was the source of infection in cats or whether it got there from sick animals. However, taking into account the risk associated with the transmission of the virus not only to animals, but also to humans, it is certainly a lead that requires a thorough check. This is a task for veterinary services and sanitary supervision - said in an interview with 'GW' virologist Prof. Krzysztof Pyrć, whose team dealt with meat testing.

As the expert explained, 'the H5N1 virus is poorly transmitted between mammals, so the risk of infection directly from cats is practically impossible'. 'To become infected, a person would have to eat raw or undercooked meat. But it can also pass to a human who touches meat with his bare hand. - The disease in humans can be extremely severe, and in the last 20 years, more than half of the more than 800 infected people have died,' the scientist explained in an interview with 'Wyborca'.

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According to Dr. Cats are particularly at risk of H5N1 infection during the three-year epidemic in Europe, due to the fact that they often come into contact with bird meat. Outgoing and free-living individuals often hunt birds, and besides, many owners feed their animals with raw food, also based on bird meat.

“Infection can occur both through the consumption of wild birds, which are hunted by cats that are freely released outside the house, and poultry, which are obtained by animals fed with raw meat or looking for food leftovers in garbage cans. In addition, H5N1 is excreted with faeces, so contact with them can also lead to infection' - says the professor of UMP.

The expert emphasizes that for now there is no possibility of transmission of the virus from a cat to another cat, dog or human. “We have cases of infection in various places in Poland. So they are all independent introductions; there is no proven case of an infected cat spreading the virus further. These animals became infected independently of each other, but probably from a common source, given that we are talking about cases that occurred over a short period of time,” he explains.

In his opinion, it is important to determine as soon as possible whether the source is wild or farmed birds. 'The H5N1 virus can occur in both of them' - explains the scientist. 'Clarification of this issue is extremely important to slow the emergence of new cases and limit further risks to public health.'

So it looks like infected poultry may have baan a major source. Poultry-food to cat spread...

Poland did import a lot of agri-culture products from Ukraine. Did the infected poultry also come from Ukraine-missed quality/health control in that way ? 

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Can a dog get cat disease? We asked the vet

David Piatkowski
2023-07-02
15:15

Cat flu attacks. Many shelters, clinics and veterinarians have already informed about the threat on social media. A mysterious disease - probably caused by a mutation of bird flu - affecting cats is supposed to be harmless to humans. But what about other animals? Can the virus spread to dogs? Our readers ask. We asked the vets. Details below.
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We managed to talk to one of Bydgoszcz veterinarians. As we heard, the National Veterinary Institute in Puławy is still conducting research on the disease of cats. To date, no cases of infection in dogs have been reported. We obtained the same information from another veterinary clinic in the province of Kuyavian-Pomeranian.

- Yesterday we had another meeting on this matter in our hospital, during which the subject of cat disease was discussed. The current situation was discussed. It said there have been no cases or reports of transmission from cat to dog at this time. We are constantly monitoring and controlling the situation. Both us in the clinic and state authorities - says Rafał Kwiatkowski, manager of one of the veterinary clinics.
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This is also confirmed by specific cases. As the reader informed us - the disease was caught by her neighbor's cat from Osowa Góra in Bydgoszcz. The pet died. There was also a dog in the house. Nothing happened to him.

A similar situation took place in one of the towns in the Wielkopolskie Voivodship. In a detached house, all the cats died of the disease, and there were several of them. The family also has two dogs. They are safe.

DJ, wild animals (including street cats, street dogs) eat infected birds and may catch H5N1 in that way...It could result in disease...So far minks did show very major mink-to-mink spread. Other mammals may see less risks for spreading H5N1...(maybe still a risk in droppings, animals eating dead infected mammals ?) 

If-indeed-most of the Polish cats did get infected via food it may limit risks...Did some infected (imported ???) poultry end up for human consumption ? Or as pig food ?