In brief
The Wild Felid Advocacy Center of Washington has reported the deaths due to a viral infection spread by wild birds, prompting quarantine measures to protect the remaining animals.
In a distressing turn of events, the Wild Felid Advocacy Center of Washington has confirmed the death of 20 big cats, including a Bengal tiger and four cougars, due to bird flu over the past several weeks. The sanctuary expressed deep sorrow in a Facebook post, stating, "This tragedy has deeply affected our team, and we are all grieving the loss of these incredible animals." The avian virus is primarily spread through respiratory secretions and bird-to-bird contact and can also enter mammal populations if they consume infected birds or products. Following the outbreak, the sanctuary has been placed under quarantine and is closed to public access to mitigate further risks.Mark Mathews, the sanctuary's director, emphasized this unprecedented event, stating, "We've never had anything like it; they usually die basically of old age." He described the virus as particularly harsh, noting that the affected animals were lost between late November and mid-December. The tragic toll includes five African serval cats and four bobcats among others, leaving only 17 cats remaining at the center.According to the sanctuary’s statement, "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." While bird flu has long plagued poultry populations, recent reports indicated it infecting cattle for the first time in March 2024. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that there have been 61 reported human cases of bird flu in the U.S., but the risk remains low for the general public. Only one individual suffered severe symptoms requiring hospitalization this month.In light of the ongoing outbreak, California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared an emergency in response to the situation affecting dairy cows, aiming to ensure that the state has the necessary resources to manage this emergent crisis effectively.
