Bird-flu cats reject virus

[WhiteTara]

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Bird_flu/0,,2-10-1959_1893288,00.html
Bird-flu cats reject virus
07/03/2006 17:13 - (SA)


Vienna - Three cats were at one point carriers of the H5N1 bird flu virus in the southern Austrian province of Styria, but two of them have since rejected the virus, says a health official.

The potentially deadly H5N1 virus was found in samples taken on February 22 by mouth swab from three cats in an animal shelter near the town of Graz, Oskar Wawschinek, spokesperson for the Austrian health and food safety organisation (AGES) told AFP.

But subsequent tests showed two of the cats no longer carried the virus.

"Nothing remained, nothing developed, they did not become ill" he said, explaining the cats had fought off the virus as humans can fight off a cold virus to avoid becoming sick.

However, for a few days, all three cats were carriers of the H5N1 virus and could have transmitted it to other animals, Wawschinek said.

more

[Greeby]

1. See, cats are superior to us

;)

[rzemanfl]

2. Cats sleep all day, if we did that we could fight things off too. n/t

[tularetom]

4. They lick up cat piss too

maybe that's what gives them immunity.

[rzemanfl]

19. What????? n/t

[MADem]

3. Oh great, now we have to sweat it if Fluffy looks a bit peaked n/t

[northofdenali]

5. Go kitties!!

At one time in history, cats were revered as gods. They have never forgotten this.

[1620rock]

6. I know what my 8 cats want...and I do it. n/t

[PinkTiger]

11. Now that is sick. Just plain sick. nt

[sam sarrha]

7. that was them this is now... and i am tired of cleaning up cat puke..

[Lorien]

13. Some still do see themselves that way, that's for certain!

Oberon is, at this very minute, DEMANDING that I play with him. He WILL NOT be ignored! ;-)



But seriously, if a few cats can "shake off" the virus, then that should offer some hope for the rest of us mammals. It's those with compromised immune systems that most need to worry (imho). Unfortunately, I'm one of them.

[AnnieBW]

8. Well, of course!

Cats NEVER do anything that you WANT them to! :D

[spotbird]

9. This sounds like very bad news

for humans, great for the cats.

[Lorien]

14. Why? We're all mammals.

if they can reject the virus, so can we. Did the two who shook it off have exceptionally strong immune systems? Will taking some of the new cold preventatives (like Airborne and Zycam) give someone more of a fighting chance against it? It would be worthwhile to study more shelter animals to find out what factors are involved in the rejection of the virus.


In the meantime, people ought to make a habit of keeping their pets indoors or on a leash.

[PhilipShore]

10. News?

I am not even a scientist or a doctor; but I have figured out a way to reduce and/or prevent the Virus from spreading -- even the cats have figured it out. I will not make it public because the -- Repuke Military Industrial complex -- scientists will try and create a means to find a stronger virus.

I can't wait for the day the Repukes are voted out of office -- in 2006 and 2008.

Gore/Kennedy, Jr. 2008

[Odin2005]

23. *Moan* Not your nonsense again.

Neither the millitary-industrial complex nor the republican party have ANYTHING to do with bird flu. I'm a Biology major, so I know you are full of crap.

[slackmaster]

12. If they had opposable thumbs we'd be in DEEP YOGURT

Without a spoon.

[JudyM]

15. Some expert on NPR this a.m. said it's absolutely lethal to cats.

She was saying that once it comes to the mainland (via Alaska, apparently) everyone should keep their cats in the house and be careful not to track bird droppings in with your shoes because cats don't have a chance with the bird flu virus. I wonder how this info squares with that.

[enlightenment]

16. Was she an expert on bird flu or an expert at talking on NPR?

There sure seem to be a lot of 'experts' out there these days who wouldn't recognize their hind end if it climbed up and whispered sweet nothings in their ear . . .

[JudyM]

20. Lol. She was an epidemiologist of some sort, I believe. She sounded

knowledgeable, as far as I could tell from my 1 course in epidemiology. I tuned in too late to catch her name/cred's.

[WhiteTara]

17. doesn't look like it does. Find out if she

has stock in Genetech and is betting on Tamiflu

[JudyM]

21. She said poor reporting in the Far East is an issue - slow and inaccurate,

and (this is where I first tuned into the interview) that there's no requirement in China to report cat deaths. Anyway, I share your skepticism about "science" that's sometimes reported to us, so we'll just have to keep listening as this unfolds. Got to say I am dreading the arrival of bird flu to the US, as it's just another excuse for the fear fireworks from the rethugs.

[mom cat]

18. I think that the "expert" forgot to ask the cats!

[Solon]

24. Cat populations vary greatly depending on where they live...

Just like human populations. I would not expect all populations of either Cats or Humans to react the same way to disease.

[truthisfreedom]

22. well that's good, because my cat is indoor/outdoor with his own door

and there ain't no changing that anymore.