300,000 cats killed by feline coronavirus mutation

IA mutation of a feline coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, where animal advocates estimate that 300,000 cats have died from the disease in the past six months. Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) ” comes from a mutation of intestinal coronavirus found in 90% of cats »Who is ” very contagious » between them, but which is not transmitted to humans, explains veterinarian Kostis Larkou. FIP presents polymorphic symptoms: fever, abdominal swelling, weakness and sometimes even aggressiveness.

According to specialists, the cat population, which is mostly made up of stray cats, would exceed the number of inhabitants of the island, estimated at just over 1 million. Cyprus and cats are an ancient story: the bones of one of these animals, discovered near human remains in a burial site more than 9,000 years old, are the oldest evidence of its domestication in the world. .

Black market

Dinos Ayioamitis, president of Cats PAWS Cyprus and vice-president of Cyprus Voice for Animals (CVA), estimates that at least 300,000 cats have already died from the disease in six months. For 25 years he has been feeding about sixty cats in a cemetery in Nicosia. ” The colony is doing well, but we are worried because if only one is infected, the others will be too. »confides this 70-year-old pensioner, near cats that jump on the marble in the tombs.

FIP affects several large cities in Cyprus, a member state of the European Union, which has been divided since the invasion of the northern part of Turkey in 1974. This epizootic would also affect neighboring countries, such as Lebanon, Israel and Turkey, but e.g. . lack of studies, ” Nothing can confirm it »says Demetris Epaminondas, vice president of the Panchypriot Veterinary Association, which brings together professionals in the sector on the island.

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Officially, only 107 cases have been identified in the southern Cypriot-Greek part of the island, according to the veterinary services of the Ministry of Agriculture. A figure that does not reflect reality, where several practitioners testify to the difficulty of diagnosing the disease and the lack of resources to do so. Especially because when cats are sick, they usually isolate themselves and die alone. Several people feeding cats told AFP that they disappeared and that very few bodies were discovered.

To contain this outbreak, two options were considered: the use of a drug approved for human coronavirus in India, molnupiravir, and a veterinary antiviral drug approved in England, called ” GS-441524 ». Only the importation of GS has been allowed in Cyprus, but it is subject to restrictions, not to mention the prohibitive price of the treatment, which can vary from 3,000 to 7,000 euros per cat. Result: there is no medicine on the island.

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Some then have to resort to secret methods. ” We buy our drugs on the black market online or on Facebook groups. We keep our suppliers secret so we can continue to care for our animals »says a Cypriot on condition of anonymity, fearing trouble.

” dead cat island »

For weeks, Mr Epaminondas has been trying to get government approval for molnupiravir, a treatment that would cost around 200 euros per person. cat. Contacted by AFP, the Ministry of Agriculture assured to investigate ” possible ways of dealing with the problem » via ” various therapeutic preparations available on the EU market ».

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Vasiliki Mani, a 38-year-old Cypriot member of several animal rights associations, is calling for a quick solution. In January, she treated two stray cats from PIF, which cost her 3,600 euros. ” I spent all my savings »says the volunteer, believing that animals in Cyprus were treated with ” negligence and cruelty ». If PIF continues to mutate, ” cat island » will be ” dead cat island »she warns.

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