Bird flu is approaching humans through cats

Scientists at the University of Maryland have discovered an alarming trend: the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza strain is crossing species barriers, using cats as a potential "bridge" for infecting humans. The research results were published in the authoritative scientific journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases (OFID).

Over the past two decades, 607 cases of feline infection have been registered in 18 countries worldwide, including both domestic pets and wild members of the family. Particularly concerning is the extremely high mortality rate among infected animals - 90%. The virus causes acute encephalitis in cats, which veterinarians often mistake for rabies.

Researchers have identified multiple transmission routes for the infection. Cats become infected not only through contact with sick birds, but also through unpasteurized milk from infected cows, as well as from other mammals. Statistics on human infection cases also raise serious concerns: of the 950 recorded cases, about half resulted in death.

The scientific community expresses concern about the possibility of further mutation of the virus, which could enable it to be transmitted through airborne droplets. The lack of systematic monitoring of feline populations significantly complicates the assessment of the real scale of the threat.

As urgent preventive measures, specialists strongly recommend excluding raw meat and milk from the diet of domestic animals, ensuring isolation of cats in outbreak zones, and strengthening epidemiological control at livestock farms and animal shelters.