"Feline Coronavirus Outbreak Claims Thousands of Cat Lives in Cyprus, Experts Issue Warning"

Experts are warning about a more virulent strain of feline coronavirus causing severe illness and thousands of cat deaths in Cyprus. The outbreak involves a feline coronavirus that does not infect humans but can lead to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a fatal inflammatory reaction. The rise in deaths has raised questions about any increased risk to people. Similar increases in FIP cases have been reported anecdotally in Lebanon, Turkey, and Israel. In Poland, an outbreak of avian flu has caused dozens of cat deaths. Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infections, but possibilities include contact with infected birds or contaminated food. The risk to cat owners and the general population is currently assessed as low, but precautions such as keeping cats indoors and dogs on a lead in affected areas have been recommended.