Big Cats Strike Down by Bird Flu in Washington Sanctuary

At the Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Shelton, Washington, a sudden outbreak of bird flu has taken the lives of 20 big cats, including a Bengal tiger and various species like cougars, lynx, and bobcats. The sanctuary faced this crisis between late November and the middle of December. Mark Mathews, the center's director, shared his shock with the New York Times. "Never before have we dealt with something like this. These cats usually pass away due to old age, " Mathews explained, emphasizing the severe nature of the virus. Three cats managed to recover from the infection, while one remains critically ill as of Tuesday. The sanctuary had previously announced on Facebook that more than half of their big cats were affected by the virus. Just under three weeks prior, the sanctuary had temporarily closed to the public due to an unknown illness affecting some animals. They were working with veterinarians to identify the cause and find a solution. On December 6, the sanctuary confirmed the presence of bird flu in some of their cats, reporting that they were collaborating with federal, state, and county health officials. Despite their biosecurity measures and quarantine efforts, the virus spread quickly. Recently, the sanctuary posted an update on Facebook expressing their heartbreak over the loss of over half of their wild felids due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). They explained that cats are particularly vulnerable, noting that symptoms can progress rapidly, often leading to death within 24 hours from pneumonia-like conditions. Bird flu can infect carnivorous mammals through contaminated bird products. As a result, the sanctuary is under quarantine and will remain closed until further notice. They are investigating the virus's origin, involving the removal of 8, 000 pounds of food from freezers and thorough disinfection of each habitat. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed avian influenza infections among numerous wild birds this fall, including two cougars with the H5N1 virus in another area. This outbreak follows a report from Los Angeles health officials who are investigating three household cats suspected of having bird flu. Earlier this year, 12 barn cats died after drinking infected raw milk at a Texas dairy. In California, more than 645 dairy herds have tested positive for H5N1, and there have been at least 61 human cases with mild symptoms in the U. S.