26 votes

Four more cats die of H5N1 bird flu in the US

3 comments

  1. [2]
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    We are really playing with fire here with H5N1. We have evidence of zoonosis in the last year or two of this virus mutating and spreading to cows, and now it is mutating and spreading to domestic...

    We are really playing with fire here with H5N1. We have evidence of zoonosis in the last year or two of this virus mutating and spreading to cows, and now it is mutating and spreading to domestic cats. I am concerned that this is a question of when, not if, it will mutate to allow human to human transmission. In the U.S. while there is some stockpiled vaccine, it is not enough to vaccinate everyone if there is an outbreak. We should be doing more at a governmental level to control the spread of H5N1 in poultry and cattle farms, even if it means disrupting the supply of chicken and eggs. I am wildly curious if this would be taken more seriously by the current administration if this wasn't an election year, since inflation of chicken, egg, and milk prices would likely risk losing the vote.

    If nothing else, this is one more signal for pet owners to keep your cats indoors.

    18 votes
    1. babypuncher
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      Shouldn't be a problem, half the country would refuse the vaccine anyways because we are a nation of idiots.

      it is not enough to vaccinate everyone if there is an outbreak.

      Shouldn't be a problem, half the country would refuse the vaccine anyways because we are a nation of idiots.

      12 votes