For many people, bird flu still sounds like something that mainly affects poultry farms. But according to virologist and researcher Babs Verstrepen from Breda, it is time for pet owners to pay more attention. “We don’t want to scare anyone,” she says, “but a little alertness can prevent a lot of trouble later.”
Bird flu is on the rise again in the Netherlands and for the first time, pets were recently also affected by the disease. This concerns a cat and seven kittens on a goat farm that have died. “The virus is coming closer again,” says virologist and researcher Babs Verstrepen of Avans University of Applied Sciences in Breda. “And that means that not only poultry farmers, but also pet owners, have to be alert again.”
Bird flu was also detected in Brabant this week at a poultry farm in Uitwijk in the municipality of Altena. A shelter-in-place order was immediately imposed. “Bird flu is basically the same type of virus as human flu,” Verstrepen explains. “Some variants are particularly good at infecting people, others in birds. But we see that this bird virus can also reach other animals, such as cats.”
According to the Breda virologist, many people forget how easily bird droppings can spread the virus. “Birds poop where they fly and land and that means sidewalks, gardens, balconies and playgrounds can become contaminated without you even seeing it.”
“If there is an infected poultry farm in your own province, then you know: the virus is in the environment,” she continues. “This also increases the chance of contact with pets.”
“The virus often ends up in the brain of felines.”
In cats, bird flu often progresses in a different way than people expect. “Don’t necessarily expect a coughing cat,” Verstrepen emphasizes. “The virus often ends up in the brain of felines. Then we mainly see neurological complaints.”
Symptoms that may indicate bird flu in domestic cats:
- Walking unsteadily or drunkenly;
- Walking in circles;
- Crooked head, dull or abnormal behavior.
“Less is known about dogs and other pets,” says Verstrepen. “We do not have extensive studies of every animal species. But what we do know: animals that become ill often show neurological symptoms.”
Although bird flu is becoming more visible everywhere, the chance that your pet will become infected remains small. “We are talking about dozens of cases in dogs and cats worldwide,” Verstrepen emphasizes. “But every problem starts small. The fact that the virus is now widely spread among wild birds and that there is a cage requirement, shows how serious the situation is.”
According to her, awareness is the key to ensuring that the matter does not escalate. “The lockdown requirement, the contamination in Uitwijk and the spread among wild birds show that we are in a phase where alertness is necessary. Do not panic, but deal with the risks sensibly. This way we can prevent the situation from escalating further.”
Tips to limit risks
Do not let your pet touch sick or dead birds. “Call your dog back if he sees a sick duck. Don’t let your cat play with a dead blackbird or pigeon.”
- Do not touch dead animals with bare hands. “Use a sandwich bag or garbage bag, preferably double. Keep other animals away.”
- Call the municipality if you find a dead bird. “Municipalities should collect dead birds. Do not throw them in the gray container: that waste is ground up, which could theoretically increase their spread.”
- Do not feed found game to your pet or eat it yourself. “A dead duck or pigeon may seem harmless, but it could be contaminated.”
- Hygiene: wash hands after contact with bird droppings or nature reserves with many water birds. “Wash hands, especially after contact with bird droppings or after a walk in areas with many waterfowl.”
Although bird flu has also been found in humans and some deaths have been reported, there is no reason to panic.
Bird flu remains very rare in humans. “Sometimes people only get an eye infection, but sometimes also more serious complaints,” Verstrepen concludes. “But human-to-human transmission is not yet an issue. And we would like to keep it that way.”
Who is virologist Babs Verstrepen?
Babs Verstrepen (54) is a virologist and researcher at the Center of Expertise Perspective in Health of Avans University of Applied Sciences in Breda. She focuses on virus detection and issues surrounding infectious diseases that can spread from animals to humans.
Previously, Breda was active at Erasmus MC / ViroScience under the leadership of the well-known virologist Marion Koopmans. She then worked for many years with laboratory animals, mainly monkeys, in laboratories where infectious diseases were studied.
