Sunday, February 12, 2006
Should we lock up our Cats in the Canary Islands because of bird flu?
When bird flu reached Nigeria, comments on local TV station, tvCanaria echoed some of my concerns about the proximity.
Now that bird flu has also reached various points of Europe - with the Canary Islands being geographically between these two latest sites of infection - and, the possibility that the disease has been carried by migratory birds, I feel there is more reason for concern and, particularly with regard to cats.
It is not my wish to be alarmist or to spread fear, but Cats Can Catch and Spread Bird Flu, which I believe presents special risks in the archipelago because of large populations of stray cats, many smallholders keeping their own few chickens, ducks, etc., and the numerous birds - some of which are protected or in danger - that either live in or vist the islands.
For a more in-depth discussion, you may wish to read this article, The Final Reason to Keep Cats Indoors.
UPDATE: Monday, February 13th
My suspicions were confirmed by an item on tonight's national news on TV, which showed a map of the migratory routes of birds (didn't catch the name of the bird), that will be travelling north from Nigeria in March. One route came directly over the Canary Islands, then to the Donaña national park in southern Spain, before going across Spain to Ireland.
This doesn't mean infected birds will arrive nor that they WILL bring the virus, but it does mean that birds from an infected area will be passing, which must surely increase the risk.
And: Nigeria bird flu plan 'failing'
In another item, it was mentioned that Spain has 5 million vaccinations ready. I don't suppose anyone knows exactly how many might be needed, but what I do know is that would be only enough to cover about 10 percent of the population.
