Veterinarian Kostis Larkou tends to a cat suffering from Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), at a clinic in Nicosia on June 20, 2023. (Credit: AFP/CHRISTINA ASSI)
The news has feline lovers in Lebanon worried.
Since January, 300,000 cats have died in neighboring Cyprus as a result of an epidemic of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), also known as feline coronavirus.
This virus, which comes from a mutation of the intestinal coronavirus present in 90 percent of cats, is highly contagious but cannot be transmitted to humans, according to AFP.
The outbreak is thought to be affecting nearby countries such as Lebanon, Israel and Turkey, but in the absence of studies, "there's nothing to say for sure," according to Demetris Epaminondas, vice-president of the Pan-Cypriot Veterinary Association.
Contacted by L'Orient-Le Jour, the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture had no information on the presence of the feline disease in Lebanon.
Animal pathophysiologist Alain Abi Rizk, however, refers to cases observed recently and warns of the risk of local and regional spread. Rizk calls for vigilance on the part of veterinarians and cat owners, as no vaccine is available to treat this type of infection.
Learn more in the Q&A below:
Are there any cases of FIP infection in cats in Lebanon today?
We are aware of several cases. The problem is that stray cats are rarely examined in Lebanon. The disease is more likely to spread among street cats.
Health authorities should ask municipal workers to sound the alarm if they begin to notice an increase in mortality among stray cats. If necessary, samples will have to be taken to make sure it's the coronavirus, but I don't know who could do this, as the ministries don't have the necessary budgets.
How did this virus get to Lebanon? How do you know if a cat is infected?
This virus spreads through the air or by clinging to clothes or shoes. If a tourist who has been to Cyprus carries the virus with him, he runs the risk of transmitting it to the felines here. Many Lebanese travel back and forth to the island. The risk is therefore certainly present in the region, not only in Lebanon but also in Syria, Turkey, Palestine and Jordan.
The main symptom of FIP in cats is diarrhea.
What protective measures need to be put in place?
For the moment, only cats are affected by this intestinal coronavirus. But the virus could mutate and spread to other animals. The risk is there, but the Lebanese health authorities are not yet aware of it.
Cat owners should avoid taking their pets out of the house to minimize the risk of exposure. There is no vaccine to protect cats from this virus.
Veterinarians can administer medication to soothe symptoms until the disease passes, but the treatment available is very expensive. Between 60 and 70 percent of sick animals can be saved if treated.