Cats' bird flu threat.THE spread of avian flu avian flu: see influenza. to felines could lead to a devastation of the cat population, it was claimed yesterday. A report warns the virus could mutate mu·tate intr. & tr.v. mu·tat·ed, mu·tat·ing, mu·tates To undergo or cause to undergo mutation. [Latin m into a dangerous strain in felines and other mammals. And infection in cats may help it adapt to a form which spreads among humans. Increasing numbers of cats are being infected with the deadly H5N1 strain through contact with birds. Researchers recommend they are kept inside in areas with high infection. They warn: "Cats could be more than a dead-end host for H5N1. Their role in its spread has been largely overlooked." CAPTION(S): DANGER: Cat |
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