Four cases of avian influenza (H5N1) were detected in three pet cats and a live bird in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara. The government said that the testing and tracking has been initiated in the immediate neighbourhood.
The initial detection of avian influenza virus in household cats within India occurred in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, sparking worries about the bird flu virus’s potential evolution and transmission to humans.
A scientist explained, “H5N1 is classically an avian virus, but certain mutations allow it to replicate in mammalian hosts. This adaptability raises concerns because influenza viruses have the potential to trigger pandemics, as seen in past outbreaks like Covid-19.”
Researchers from ICAR-NIHSAD and the Union government’s animal husbandry department recorded these incidents in January in Chhindwara, which shares its border with Nagpur, where numerous big cats succumbed to bird flu in December last year.
The research group identified the virus as part of the 2.3.2.1a lineage, a variation of H5N1 responsible for numerous poultry outbreaks across India. The research states, “These cases represent the first documented instances of this particular strain infecting domestic cats in India.”
The investigation revealed that affected cats displayed symptoms including elevated temperature, reduced food intake, and weakness before dying within one to three days after samples were taken. The analysis uncovered 27 viral mutations in the cats. Researchers advised increased monitoring of domestic poultry, wild birds, and mammals, including pets and humans, considering the virus’s demonstrated ability to affect different species.
