<span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Normalcy is expected to return after March 4 in Chhindwara town as the H5N1 virus was detected in domestic cats. The meat, chicken, and egg markets are closed and people are advised to visit government hospitals if they have any flu-like symptoms.<span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">&nbsp;
<span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The entire tribal-dominated district has been on high alert since February 10. This is the first time in India that domestic cats have been detected with bird flu.<span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">&nbsp;
<span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">On January 10, according to a senior government official, 99 domestic cats fell sick and were brought to a veterinary hospital, later two of them detected the H5N1 virus. Although avian influenza usually does not infect humans, in rare cases, illnesses in humans from avian influenza virus infections have ranged in severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death.
<span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">&ldquo;The virus might have been transmitted from chicken to these cats fed by their caretakers,&rdquo; a senior government officer said adding, &ldquo;So far only local market of chicken and meat has been declared closed for 21 days.&rdquo;
<span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The H5N1 virus&mdash;commonly associated with birds&mdash;has been detected in cats. In response, the district administration has implemented precautionary measures, including a 21-day prohibition on the sale and purchase of mutton, chicken, and eggs. Meat and poultry shops in the affected areas have also been sealed.<span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">&nbsp;
<span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The cats were brought to the local veterinary hospital and doctors were unable to diagnose their problem. After initial efforts to treat them, the doctors intimated the Bhopal district lab. A team of experts visited Chhindwara and collected samples.
<span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">&ldquo;To investigate, samples from several cats were sent to Pune&rsquo;s National Institute of Virology on January 15 and 22. By February 10, the results confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus in two samples. Taking swift action, the administration targeted the source of the infection,&rdquo; Dr HGS Pakshwar, the deputy director of animal husbandry department Chhindwara, told IANS over the telephone.
<span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">He further said that raw meat samples were collected from shops linked to the deceased cats' diet. Bird flu traces found at these shops prompted the destruction of related meat and eggs, accompanied by a 30-day closure of the establishments.
<span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Moreover, samples from 65 people in contact with the infected cats were also tested. &ldquo;All results came back negative. Nevertheless, health officials remain vigilant, with ongoing surveillance in the area in a radius of 10 km.&rdquo;
<span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">To control the spread, authorities destroyed 40,000 eggs and culled 500 hens and chickens.
<span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">&mdash;IANS

Virus was transmitted from the chicken that was fed to the cats (File Photo)

99 cats were effected with bird flu; local markets of chicken & meat closed for 21 days

H5N1 in Cats: Normalcy Expected After March 4 in Chhindwara

99 cats were effected with bird flu; local markets of chicken & meat closed for 21 days

February 28, 2025 | 15:31 IST