Until a few months ago, receiving a positive diagnosis for H5N1 avian influenza was the equivalent of killing a cat Death sentence. No cats have been able to overcome the infection. For this reason, the recent announcement that some cats have successfully survived the disease, after early veterinary follow-up, has shaken the scientific and veterinary communities.
Work by a team from the University of Maryland demonstrates this for the first time Cats can recover from bird flu if the disease is detected and managed in its early stages. Lead researcher Christine K. explained: “Our results show that cats can survive avian influenza if they receive early care. Euthanasia is not necessary in all cases,” said Coleman, a veterinarian who specializes in epidemiology and disease surveillance. In a documented outbreak among four house cats, two were able to survive, and the team observed that the animals that overcame the infection not only regained their health, but Developed immune response Able to protect them from the possibility of reinfection for several months.
The researcher’s statement represents a qualitative shift. To date, the dominant strategy against infection in cats has been containment by eradication, due to the high lethality of the virus and the lack of specific treatments. But this study opens up an alternative avenue to the possibility that early detection and adequate veterinary care could turn an almost always fatal disease into a controllable infection.
“Influenza” is no longer limited to birds
H5N1 avian influenza belongs to the category Highly pathogenic virusIt is known for its ability to spread among wild birds and poultry and has devastating effects. But since 2023, the worrying phenomenon has been observed The virus began to frequently jump to mammalsincluding foxes, mink, seals, sea lions, bears and domestic cats.
A International meta-analysis What was published this year confirms that the number of infections in cats has increased significantly, especially in the past two years, coinciding with the expansion of the H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b strain. According to the data collected, The mortality rate in infected cats reaches 84%.with severe neurological and respiratory symptoms. Although the global incidence of cat infections remains low (about 0.7% of cases analyzed), scientists warn that the pattern is changing. The virus not only stays active, it does Learn to adapt to new hosts.
The key to this expansion seems to lie in this Mutations identified in North American strainsWhich makes them more efficient when it comes to reproduction in mammals. A recent study suggests two specific mutations are responsible for this greater virulence. Currently, these variants have not been detected in Europe, but the result underscores the need to strengthen molecular surveillance and monitoring International cooperation To halt a potential evolutionary drift toward greater transmission between species.
Europe is on alert and Spain is on constant surveillance
In recent months, Europe has witnessed a succession of outbreaks of the disease in wild and domestic birds Confirmed cases in Ireland, Finland, Portugal, France, Germany, Poland, Belgium and IcelandThe virus was discovered even in the autopsy of a kitten. In total, 15 countries out of 27 European Union member states have recorded cases of bird flu so far this season. Although European authorities were able to contain most of the outbreaks, the fact that the virus appeared in pets raised all alarms.
In Spain so far No infections have been confirmed in domestic or feral cats.But the country maintains a high level of surveillance. Due to outbreaks detected since 2024 in wild birds and poultry, with several recent cases emerging, the Ministry of Agriculture and Autonomous Regions have strengthened surveillance measures, including Restrictions on outdoor breeding In certain areas.
It is important to keep in mind that just because there are no officially documented cases of cats does not mean they do not exist. a lot Semi-wild or rural colonial cats They live near poultry farms or livestock facilities, where contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces is likely. Without veterinary care or health monitoring, any mild or fatal infection can go unnoticed. For this exact reason, specialists insist on the necessity of including cats, whether domestic or feral, in epidemiological surveillance programs within the framework of the strategy. One healthwhich integrates human, animal and environmental health.
In the absence of specific recommendations from health or veterinary authorities, some foreign experts (American Veterinary Medical Association AVMA) agree that it is wise to adopt basic preventive measures, especially in rural areas or near poultry farms. Prevent cats from free access Going to areas around farms or to places where they may come into contact with wild birds or their remains is, at present, the most sensible way to reduce risk.
In case of observation symptoms Compatible with respiratory infections, such as fever, sneezing, lethargy, difficulty breathing, or lack of appetite, it is recommended. Go to the vet immediately To evaluate the situation and rule out possible infection. Caution should not be confused with alarm. It is about strengthening monitoring and protection of animals and the people who live with them.
A discovery that redefines veterinary response
Beyond the comfort of knowing that some cats can survive, the University of Maryland study focuses on just that The importance of early diagnosis and rapid veterinary response. The scientific community agrees that H5N1 remains a potential threat to public health, but it also agrees that these survival cases provide a valuable opportunity to study how mammals respond to infection and how subsequent immunity develops.
The researchers noted that the cats that overcome the disease maintained their health High levels of neutralizing antibodies for several monthsThis indicates sustained protection against reinfection. These data, although preliminary, could help design better preventive strategies in pets and improve predictive models of viral jumping between species.
Progress also questions the systematic practice of euthanasia as the only way out when faced with a positive. If early diagnosis and proper management can save a cat’s life, The ethical and clinical approach to H5N1 must be updated. In the words of the study authors, these findings “reinforce the need for more precise monitoring, rapid diagnosis, and treatments focused on animal health.”
Concept One Health: One Health, One Planet
Birds infect mammals, mammals coexist with humans, and humans share changing ecosystems as viruses find new opportunities to adapt. For this reason, the answer cannot be piecemeal.
Concept One healthadopted by the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Organization for Animal HealthIt starts precisely from that hypothesis, that Human health is closely linked to the health of animals and the balance of the environment.
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