Geneva [Switzerland], July 20: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged caution following reports that almost 30 cats have died in Poland of a form of influenza that usually affects birds.
Earlier this week the WHO reported 29 confirmed cases of infection with the H5N1 avian flu virus among cats in different parts of Poland. The WHO asked all countries to ensure that possible human cases are detected early. The outbreak was another warning that the bird flu virus could trigger the next pandemic, Wenqing Zhang, head of the WHO influenza programme, said in Geneva on Wednesday.
The WHO once again urged industry and scientists to develop possible vaccines so that in the event of a human outbreak, a vaccine will be available quickly. Avian flu has been circulating in wild birds for decades, but the number of cases has exploded in the past three years.
It has also increasingly turned up in various species of mammals. There have been isolated cases in cats, but Poland has now become the first country to report a major outbreak.
There are also isolated cases of bird flu infection in humans. But so far the virus has not changed in such a way that it can be transmitted from person to person. However, there is a risk of such mutations. Bird flu is life-threatening for humans.
WHO said it is continuing to monitor the situation and work in collaboration with the animal and public health sectors, regional agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and other partner agencies in Poland.
Source: Qatar Tribune