The Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Washington faces immense grief and quarantine as bird flu claims the lives of 20 big cats, sparking wider worries about the virus's spread in wildlife and livestock.
Bird Flu Devastates Big Cat Population at Washington Sanctuary
Bird Flu Devastates Big Cat Population at Washington Sanctuary
Tragic loss of 20 big cats raises concerns over avian influenza's impact
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In a heartbreaking incident, the Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Washington has reported the tragic loss of 20 big cats, including a Bengal tiger and four cougars, due to bird flu, a viral infection primarily spread by wild birds. Over the past several weeks, the sanctuary has been deeply affected by the illness, which claimed the lives of five African serval cats, four bobcats, and two Canada lynx, leaving only 17 cats remaining.
Sanctuary director Mark Mathews described the situation as unprecedented, stating, “We've never had anything like it; they usually die basically of old age.” The sanctuary has now been put under quarantine and closed to the public to contain the outbreak, which primarily spreads through respiratory secretions and ingestion of infected birds or their products.
The deaths occurred between late November and mid-December, with the sanctuary confirming in a recent Facebook post that cats are particularly susceptible to this virus, which can lead to rapid deterioration and death within 24 hours due to pneumonia-like complications.
As bird flu continues to affect poultry and has recently spread to cattle across the U.S., public health officials are monitoring its presence closely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 61 reported human cases since April, though the risk to the general public remains low, and no sustained human-to-human transmission has been reported.
In response to the growing outbreak in California's dairy cattle, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to mobilize necessary resources for a swift response. The sanctuary's heart-wrenching loss serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by the avian influenza virus to both wildlife and livestock populations.
In a heartbreaking incident, the Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Washington has reported the tragic loss of 20 big cats, including a Bengal tiger and four cougars, due to bird flu, a viral infection primarily spread by wild birds. Over the past several weeks, the sanctuary has been deeply affected by the illness, which claimed the lives of five African serval cats, four bobcats, and two Canada lynx, leaving only 17 cats remaining.
Sanctuary director Mark Mathews described the situation as unprecedented, stating, “We've never had anything like it; they usually die basically of old age.” The sanctuary has now been put under quarantine and closed to the public to contain the outbreak, which primarily spreads through respiratory secretions and ingestion of infected birds or their products.
The deaths occurred between late November and mid-December, with the sanctuary confirming in a recent Facebook post that cats are particularly susceptible to this virus, which can lead to rapid deterioration and death within 24 hours due to pneumonia-like complications.
As bird flu continues to affect poultry and has recently spread to cattle across the U.S., public health officials are monitoring its presence closely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 61 reported human cases since April, though the risk to the general public remains low, and no sustained human-to-human transmission has been reported.
In response to the growing outbreak in California's dairy cattle, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to mobilize necessary resources for a swift response. The sanctuary's heart-wrenching loss serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by the avian influenza virus to both wildlife and livestock populations.
