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Cats, just like pigs, can provide the bridge for the H5N1 virus to jump to humans, the study said.
The researchers also claimed that cats can create multiple routes for the virus to affect human beings.
Cats are widely considered fluffy buddies who brighten up your life with their companionship. However, a recent study brought to light that they pose a severe health risk. Medical experts have long regarded pigs as one of the greatest threats to public health. These creatures have body cells that allow viruses to mix and mutate. It can lead to the creation of new strains capable of causing human pandemics. Now a new study has emerged, suggesting that pet cats pose a similar threat. It claims that cats can supposedly provide the bridge that enables H5N1 bird flu to mutate and jump to humans. This study was published earlier this month in the academic journal Taylor and Francis Online.
In this study, the researchers conducted postmortems on 10 cats. Of them, one was just a six-month-old kitten who died of H5N1 in South Dakota, US. The kitten consumed the remains of dead birds in April this year which led to its death. Samples were taken from the brains, lungs and stomachs of these cats. It was then discovered that their cells had receptors like pigs. This meant they were susceptible to both mammalian and avian forms of influenza.
The researchers also claimed that cats can create multiple routes for the virus to affect human beings. “Infected cats develop systemic infections and shed the virus through both respiratory and digestive tracts, potentially creating multiple routes of exposure to humans… furthermore, the ability of the virus to persist and adapt in mammalian hosts heightens the risk of evolving into strains with increased transmissibility, posing an emerging zoonotic threat with profound public health implications,” they said as per multiple outlets.
Speaking further, the researchers highlighted how it has become essential to monitor the spread of the H5N1 virus among domestic animals. “As H5N1 viruses continue to infect a wide range of avian and mammalian hosts, including an increasing number of human cases, there is an urgent need for coordinated One Health surveillance to monitor the spread of H5N1 among domestic and wild birds, animals, and humans,” they said.
In recent years, the avian H5N1 pandemic has killed millions of birds all over the world. This virus has been detected in more than 21 mammalian species. They include foxes, skunks, sea lions, mink dolphins, raccoon dogs, seals and mice. It was recently reported that more than 846 cattle herds in the US were hit by this virus which disrupted the milk supplies in 16 states. Cases like these have sparked concern among several medical experts. They have warned the virus is now getting ever closer to human beings.