In a first for India, cases of avian influenza (H5N1) have been detected in domestic cats in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh. However, authorities have confirmed that the cats’ owners remain unaffected by the virus.
According to officials, samples from three to four cats in Chhindwara were sent to the ICAR-National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal in January. The results returned positive for H5N1, but their owners tested negative for the virus. The health department had quarantined and monitored the owners as a precautionary measure.
MP Animal Husbandry Department Director P.S. Patel stated, “We have been periodically sending samples of cats and birds from Chhindwara and other parts of the state. So far, none of them have tested positive for the avian virus beyond the initial cases. There is no immediate cause for alarm regarding its mutation to humans.”
Concerns Over Virus Mutation
The detection of H5N1 in domestic cats has raised concerns about potential mutations that could facilitate transmission to humans. A study conducted by ICAR-NIHSAD and the Union Government’s Animal Husbandry Department found that the 2.3.2.1a variant of the virus was responsible for the infections. This is the first documented instance of this strain affecting domestic cats in India, according to Times of India.
The infected cats exhibited symptoms such as high fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy before succumbing to the illness within one to three days. The study also identified 27 mutations in the variant affecting the cats, differing from strains typically found in poultry.
Need for Vigilance
Experts stress the importance of continued monitoring of poultry, wild birds, and mammals, including humans, to prevent potential cross-species transmission of the virus. The MP district of Chhindwara borders Nagpur in Maharashtra, where several big cats were previously affected by the avian flu.
Authorities have urged the public not to panic but to remain vigilant. Regular screenings and preventive measures are being undertaken to contain the spread and assess any further risk to animals and humans.
Sources By Agencies