Pet insurance fears over avian flu threat

Posted : 01-03-2006

A cat has been found dead from the deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu on the German island of Ruegen, sparking fears that the nation's pets are in danger from the disease.

If the disease has jumped from birds to cats this would be the first time it has been known to jump the species barrier. As a precaution, pet-owners in the surrounding area have been advised to keep their cats inside.

However, the European Commission (EC) has said it is most likely that the cat caught the disease by eating one of the dozens of birds which have died from the H5N1 strain on the island.

Fearing the public's reaction to the news, the EC and a British veterinary expert have rushed to allay pet-owners' concerns of a country-wide bird flu pandemic among the nation's pets.

British Veterinary Association spokesman Dr Bob McCracken said cats had not played any significant role to date in the spread of bird flu and that owners should keep events in perspective.

"This is not a new finding, it has been known now for two or three years in Southeast Asia in both domestic cats and big cats in the zoo," he said.

"We know that there has been no significant role to date by those cats in the spread of avian flu."

However, the EC's reassurances have done little to allay pet owners concerns of bird flu.

Many owners have been taking out additional pet insurance to mitigate the threat, although insurance taken out for this reason is of little tangible benefit.

There is no vaccine for carriers of the H5N1 strain, so pet insurance can not cover the cost of treatment, whether for a bird or a cat.

Nevertheless, the cold weather and freezing conditions mean the nation's pets are far more likely to suffer from an ailment during the winter months, making adequate pet insurance as vital as ever.


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