German cat gets deadly bird flu
A domestic cat in Germany has become the first European Union mammal to die of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.
The cat was found dead at the weekend on the Baltic island of Ruegen, where dozens of birds infected with H5N1 have been found.
Further north, Sweden has detected "aggressive" bird flu in two wild ducks and is testing to confirm H5N1.
Meanwhile, vets from 50 countries have been meeting in Paris for a second day to discuss ways to combat the virus.
The H5N1 infection in the German cat was confirmed by officials at the national laboratory, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, but tests are continuing to determine if it is the exact strain that has been found in birds.
Laboratory chief Thomas Mettenleiter said pet owners on the island should keep cats inside for the time being.
Cats have been known to contract the virus from eating infected birds. Three rare civet cats in Vietnam died of bird flu last August. In October 2004, dozens of tigers died at a private zoo in Thailand after a bird flu outbreak.
There are no recorded cases of cat-to-human infection, but the German finding will raise concerns of further cross-species transmission.
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