1 of 2 Vet attends to a cat suffering from feline infectious peritonitis Photo: CHRISTINA ASSI / AFP Vet attends to a cat suffering from feline infectious peritonitis Photo: CHRISTINA ASSI / AFP
A mutation in a feline coronavirus in Cyprus is wreaking havoc on this Mediterranean island known for its overpopulation of stray cats. Animal rights activists in the region are demanding that the government take urgent measures to contain the epidemic.
“Baby” is a sixmonthold cat who has just arrived at a veterinary clinic in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. The animal was diagnosed with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).
This virus “derives from a mutation of an intestinal coronavirus found in 90% of cats” and is “highly contagious” in cats. However, transmission to humans is not possible, explained veterinarian Kostis Larkou.
Symptoms caused by the virus are fever, abdominal swelling, weakness and sometimes aggression.
Cyprus is known for its cat overpopulation, with just over a million cats, mostly stray cats. Experts claim that this number exceeds the population of the island.
In addition, the love story between the island and the cats goes back a long way. This is where the oldest evidence of feline domestication was found, with the discovery of a cat skeleton alongside human remains dated over 9,000 years ago.
2 of 2 new strain of feline coronavirus, feline infectious peritonitis, is not transmissible to humans Photo: CHRISTINA ASSI / AFP new strain of feline coronavirus, feline infectious peritonitis, is not transmissible to humans Photo: CHRISTINA ASSI / AFP
Dinos Ayiomamitis, president of Cats PAWS Cyprus and vice president of Cyprus Voice for Animals (CVA), estimated that at least 300,000 cats have died from the disease since January.
He has been feeding around 60 cats in a Nicosia cemetery for 25 years. “The animals are fine, but we are concerned because if only one gets infected, the others will get infected too,” said the 70yearold pensioner.
The virus is found in several major cities in Cyprus, but also in neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Israel and Turkey. But the lack of studies makes it difficult to confirm the data, said Cyprus Veterinary Association vicepresident Demetris Epaminondas.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Veterinary Service, only 107 cases have been officially registered in the south of the island but this figure does not reflect reality. Experts note difficulties in diagnosing the disease and lament the lack of resources.
Several people who regularly feed cats told AFP that they simply disappear and few bodies are found. This incident occurs because when the animals become ill, they isolate themselves and die alone.
To contain the epidemic, two options are being considered: using an Indianapproved human coronavirus drug molnupiravir and an Englandapproved veterinary antiviral drug called “GS441524”.
Currently only the import of the GS to Cyprus is allowed with restrictions. The treatment price can be as high as 7,000 euros (US$7.7,000 or R$37.6,000) per animal.
Due to the situation, some people resort to clandestine methods.
“We buy our medicines in the underground market on the internet or in Facebook groups,” said one Cypriot, who asked not to be known to avoid trouble.
“The Island of the Dead Cats”
Epaminondas has been urging the government for weeks to allow molnupiravir a treatment that would cost around 200 euros (US$220 or R$1,076) per cat.
For AFP, the Agriculture Ministry said it was studying “possible ways to solve the problem” with treatments “available on the European Union market”.
“I’ve spent all my savings,” says Vasiliki Mani, 38, from Cyprus, who believes animals are treated with “negligence and cruelty.”
Mani treated two stray cats in January, which cost 3,600 euros (US$4,000 or R$19,500).
If the PIF has further mutations, “the island of cats” will become the “island of dead cats” for them, she warned.