A feline coronavirus mutation is wreaking havoc on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, famous for its overpopulation of feral cats, and animal advocates have called on the government to take urgent action to curb the epidemic.
Specifically, it is feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a disease that would have killed 300,000 cats since January, according to Dinos Ayiomamitis, president of the Cats PAWS Cyprus protector.
This virus “comes from a mutation of the intestinal coronavirus present in 90% of cats”, which is “highly contagious” among these cats, but is not transmitted to humans, explained the veterinarian Kostis Larkou.
The symptoms of this virus are fever, swelling in the abdomen, weakness and sometimes aggressiveness, according to the AFP news agency.
Cyprus is known for its overpopulation of cats. According to multiple experts, the feline population of just over a million cats, essentially strays, would exceed the number of inhabitants on the island.
Also, the love story between Cyprus and cats goes back a long time. It is on this island that the oldest evidence in the world of its domestication was found, with the discovery of a cat skeleton next to human remains from more than 9,000 years ago.
Dinos Ayiomamitis, president of Cats PAWS Cyprus and vice president of Cyprus voice for Animals (CVA), estimates that at least 300,000 cats have died from the disease since January.
The virus is already present in several large cities in Cyprus, but it would also have spread to neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Israel or Turkey.
Although, in the absence of studies, it is impossible to say for sure, said Demetris Epaminondas, vice president of the Pan-Cypriot Veterinary Association, which brings together professionals in the sector on the island.
Officially, only 107 cases have been registered in the southern part of the island, according to the veterinary services of the Ministry of Agriculture.
However, this figure does not reflect reality. Several specialists point out difficulties in diagnosing the disease and the lack of resources to do so.
Especially since when cats get sick, they usually isolate themselves and die alone. Several people who often feed cats told AFP that they simply disappear and very few bodies are found.