BIRD FLU                                                                                                                                             

Briefing from Beth Skillings BVSc MRCVS, Head of Veterinary Services at Cats Protection, regarding Avian Influenza ('bird flu'):

Leading UK feline welfare charity, Cats Protection, is today urging pet owners not to panic about their pets' health, or their own health, following the death of a swan from a strain of H5 avian influenza in Scotland.

Beth Skillings, Head of Veterinary Services for the charity, agrees with both leading health protection professionals, Defra and the British Veterinary Association, that the risk to cats from the H5N1 virus is small. The risk of transmission from cats to people is even lower.

"We urge pet owners to be sensible and keep things in perspective. There is no need for owners to rehome their cats, or have them euthanased, because of fears of infection with bird 'flu. However, owners should consider keeping their cats indoors if living within a 3km radius of an outbreak, as recommended by Defra," she said.

There have been no recorded cases of cat to human infection from the virus. 'Cat 'flu' is a different condition caused by completely unrelated organisms.

The charity suggests that concerned owners could try and keep their cats away from wild waterfowl and poultry and, in line with Defra guidelines, safely dispose of any wild birds and poultry carcasses that their cat presents in double sealed bags in household rubbish outside using disposable rubber gloves. We recommend that raw poultry should not be fed to cats, not only because of avian flu, but because of the risk of salmonella and other infections. Owners should also discourage their cats from eating dead wild birds.

Owners of cats that hunt could also keep their pets in at dawn and dusk to lessen predatory activity. Normal hygiene practices should be observed when handling cat or bird faeces.

No vaccine is licensed to prevent bird 'flu in cats.

Any unusual deaths of waterfowl or waders should be reported to the Defra Helpline (08459 335577). Defra is likely to issue further guidance for pet and bird owners should the situation change. For the latest updates, please see the Defra website www.defra.gov.uk