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Twenty big cats, including a Bengal tiger and four cougars, have died from bird flu at a sanctuary in Washington state over the past several weeks. The Wild Felid Advocacy Center announced the tragic losses on Facebook, calling it a devastating blow for their team and the animals.
The virus, primarily spread by wild birds through respiratory secretions or contact, can also infect mammals that consume contaminated birds. The sanctuary is now under quarantine and closed to the public to prevent further spread.
In a Facebook post the Wild Felid Advocacy Center said “This devastating viral infection, carried by wild birds, spreads primarily through respiratory secretions and bird-to-bird contact and can also be contracted by carnivorous mammals that ingest birds or other products. Cats are particularly vulnerable to this virus, which can cause subtle initial symptoms but progress rapidly, often resulting in death within 24 hours due to pneumonia-like conditions.”
The deaths occurred between late November and mid-December, according to sanctuary director Mark Mathews, who described the outbreak as unprecedented. “We’ve never seen anything like it. It’s a wicked virus,” he said.
The sanctuary reported losing five African serval cats, four bobcats, two Canada lynx, and other felines, leaving only 17 cats remaining. Bird flu, which causes rapid and often fatal pneumonia-like symptoms in cats, has been a growing concern in the U.S., impacting cattle, poultry, and even humans.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that while bird flu has infected 61 humans in the U.S. since April 2024, the risk to the general public remains low.
Most human cases have been mild, though one severe case in Louisiana required hospitalization this month. California Governor Gavin Newsom recently declared a state of emergency to address outbreaks in dairy cattle.
Sources: BBC, Wild Felid Advocacy Center.
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