 is strain of the coronavirus which only affects cats, so cannot infect humans, causing a fever, swollen joints and even aggressive behaviour in the beloved pets. A current outbreak in the Greek and Turkish isle has reportedly killed 300,000 cats since the first cases were reported in capital Nicosia in January - nearly one in three of all cats thought to be living there (one million). Officially, only 107 cases have been reported but Dinos Ayiomamitis, who heads Cat Paws Cyprus and Cyprus Voice for Animals, said that with such a huge stray population, the true number was more likely around 300,000. This was a rough estimation based on a 20-30% mortality rate, Mr Ayiomamitis said. Feline medicine expert Prof Danielle Gunn-Moore, from the University of Edinburgh, described the size of the outbreak as totally unprecedented, saying it had "never been seen in living or reported history". Many of the island's myriad strays had fallen dead in the streets, causing a health hazard, she said. Prof Gunn-Moore said there was evidence the strain, thought to be more deadly than regular strains, had spread to neighbouring Turkey, Lebanon and Israel. 'If this virus gets to the UK it could cause many of our cats to die,' the professor told the Daily Telegraph. 'It would be heartbreaking. We must take this seriously.' However, one similar feline health expert claims there is currently no evidence the strain has yet reached the UK. Martha Canon, co-owner of the Oxford Cl){kind=link}
Nearly one in three cats in Cyprus have died from an outbreak of feline coronavirus since January, animal rights campaigners say, and now vets fear the strain spreading to the UK
Vets fear a feline coronavirus outbreak which has wiped out nearly a third of Cyprus’ cats could spread to the UK.
The epidemic has led to surge in cats on the island falling ill and dying, and one feline health expert says the strain could spread overseas and hit British moggies if not carefully contained.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is strain of the coronavirus which only affects cats, so cannot infect humans, causing a fever, swollen joints and even aggressive behaviour in the beloved pets.
A current outbreak in the Greek and Turkish isle has reportedly killed 300,000 cats since the first cases were reported in capital Nicosia in January – nearly one in three of all cats thought to be living there (one million).