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Quarantine authorities are investigating whether a cat died of bird flu in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, where a highly pathogenic strain of the disease broke out in April. If the cat is found to have died of avian influenza, it would be the first mammal to die of the disease in Korea. Dr. Kim Chul-joong, a professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Chungnam National University, said Wednesday, ¡°We isolated the highly pathogenic strain of avian flu from the dead cat found along the Mangyeong River in Gimje and have asked the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service to confirm the cause of death of the cat.¡±
The strain of bird flu found in the country in April and May is known to infect not only poultry but also mammals such as rats and ferrets. If the cat is confirmed to have died from bird flu, quarantine authorities may have to order a cull of dogs, cats and other mammals in the wild. However, Kim Chang-seob, chief veterinary officer of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said, ¡°Even though the cat might have died from the avian influenza virus, cats¡¯ somatological characteristics do not transfer the virus to human bodies. Therefore the chances of humans being infected with the virus remain slim."
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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