A bird flu outbreak has killed 20 big cats at a shelter in Washington state, according to the Wild Felid Advocacy Center of Washington. The shelter, which is dedicated to caring for wild felines, announced on Facebook that more than half of its animals had contracted the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.
The outbreak began on December 2 when the shelter temporarily closed due to an unknown illness affecting some of the cats. After a few days, health officials confirmed the presence of bird flu in some of the affected cats. The shelter subsequently placed itself under quarantine and will remain closed until the quarantine is lifted.
The shelter reported that more than half of its big cats had been affected by the outbreak, with 20 animals dying as a result. The cause of death was attributed to pneumonia-like conditions caused by the bird flu virus.
Experts are now working with the shelter to implement strict biosecurity measures and disinfection protocols to prevent further spread of the disease. In response to the tragedy, the sanctuary is seeking donations from the community to support ongoing care for its surviving animals.
Source: https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/bird-flu-kills-big-cats