A domestic cat belonging to a family from Deux-Sèvres was euthanized after being infected with avian flu, we learned on Tuesday from the Ministry of Agriculture, confirming information from Ouest-France.
The animal, euthanized at the end of December because of the deterioration of its state of health, lived in a dwelling located near a duck farm also affected and completely slaughtered.
The ministry states that “thehe detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) in mammals is a rare phenomenon” more “already observed“.
Marine mammals (grey seal, European otter) as terrestrial (red fox, lynx or badger) had already been affected.
“The sensitivity of cats and more generally of felines to HPAI viruses has been known since 2004“, is it still added.
Avian flu is progressing in France in the heart of poultry farms, with 286 outbreaks recorded by the authorities since August 1, which marks the start of the 2022-2023 epizootic.
4.6 million poultry have also been slaughtered since the same date, mainly between December and January.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Agriculture reminded AFP that transmission to humans “HPAI viruses currently in Europe“, remained “weak“for the general population according to the European Evaluation Agency (EFSA).
Between the end of 2021 and the spring of 2022, more than 20 million poultry had been slaughtered in France, a record.
The government has also called for a first vaccination campaign in the fall of 2023 to revive the sector.
