Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
[News Focus] Mystery deepens after hundreds of cat deaths in S. Korea
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By No Kyung-min
Published : May 19, 2024 - 11:01
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According to local animal activist groups Life and Myoeon, a total of 513 cases of cats displaying similar symptoms -- acute neuromuscular diseases, high fever, elevated liver enzymes and kidney failure -- have been documented as of May 12. Of the affected animals, 181 have died.
The activists, citing owners, claimed that all affected felines have consumed cat food made by a single manufacturer from January to April this year.
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The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, however, found no correlation between the deaths and the suspected cat food in its investigation. It tested over 50 pet food samples currently available, including those suspected by cat owners, for 78 toxic substances, seven viruses and two types of parasites and germs.
Additional tests conducted on 10 deceased cat bodies by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, aiming to detect 17 types of infection, 34 substances associated with myopathic disorders, and a total of 859 harmful substances, also did not yield conclusive results.
The results suggest the recent deaths were not the result of another avian influenza outbreak, which the Agriculture Ministry identified as the culprit behind the deaths of 38 cats at an animal shelter in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in August. That outbreak was linked to the highly pathogenic H5N1 AI strain found in cat food.
Announcing the test results, the ministry said, “Given the potential for fatalities caused by other factors, we will continue investigating potential causes and conducting tests.”
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https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240517050765
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In reference to the bird flu outbreak in cats mentioned in this article:
South Korea - Outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in cats 2023
https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/asia/h5n1-h5n8-h1n08-tracking/korea/south-korea-tracking/977123-south-korea-outbreak-of-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-h5n1-in-cats-2023
...
By No Kyung-min
Published : May 19, 2024 - 11:01
...
According to local animal activist groups Life and Myoeon, a total of 513 cases of cats displaying similar symptoms -- acute neuromuscular diseases, high fever, elevated liver enzymes and kidney failure -- have been documented as of May 12. Of the affected animals, 181 have died.
The activists, citing owners, claimed that all affected felines have consumed cat food made by a single manufacturer from January to April this year.
...
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, however, found no correlation between the deaths and the suspected cat food in its investigation. It tested over 50 pet food samples currently available, including those suspected by cat owners, for 78 toxic substances, seven viruses and two types of parasites and germs.
Additional tests conducted on 10 deceased cat bodies by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, aiming to detect 17 types of infection, 34 substances associated with myopathic disorders, and a total of 859 harmful substances, also did not yield conclusive results.
The results suggest the recent deaths were not the result of another avian influenza outbreak, which the Agriculture Ministry identified as the culprit behind the deaths of 38 cats at an animal shelter in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in August. That outbreak was linked to the highly pathogenic H5N1 AI strain found in cat food.
Announcing the test results, the ministry said, “Given the potential for fatalities caused by other factors, we will continue investigating potential causes and conducting tests.”
...
https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240517050765
---------------------------
In reference to the bird flu outbreak in cats mentioned in this article:
South Korea - Outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in cats 2023
https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/asia/h5n1-h5n8-h1n08-tracking/korea/south-korea-tracking/977123-south-korea-outbreak-of-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-h5n1-in-cats-2023
