Contamination observed in France for the first time
At the end of 2022, ANSES, as the national reference laboratory, confirmed the contamination of a cat by the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1. This cat, which lived near a duck farm affected by the virus, suffered from severe neurological symptoms due to the viral infection and had to be euthanized.
The sensitivity of cats to highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) has been known since 2004 and has already been demonstrated in Thailand and Germany in 2006. This is the first time that such contamination has been observed in France.
A virus that adapts to mammals
The virus detected in this cat presents genetic characteristics of adaptation to mammals. As indicated above, the avian influenza virus can sporadically infect mammals following mutations in the genome. However, it should be checked that these phenomena remain sporadic and that the viruses which have acquired these capacities of passage to mammals are not detected in poultry farms.
The genetic investigations carried out by ANSES made it possible to verify that only the cat carried this mutant virus and that this mutation was not present, at this stage, in the ducks from the farm at the origin of the contamination. .
Get vaccinated against the seasonal flu to prevent the emergence of a new virus
The contamination of pets such as cats could facilitate the passage of the virus to humans. It is therefore essential to keep them away from infected farms and from euthanasia operations in contaminated duck homes.
Furthermore, professionals exposed to swine and avian influenza viruses are advised to get vaccinated against seasonal flu. Indeed, a simultaneous infection by an avian influenza virus and a human influenza virus could lead to the emergence of a new influenza virus potentially very contagious for humans.