Unknown Feline Virus Being Reported In Thai Newspapers

[sbk]

Thai Rath is reporting the outbreak of an unknown feline virus, apparently no cure so far, it has killed at least 500 cats in one area near Bangkok, but that is reported deaths so it could be higher.

Sounds like people need to keep their kitties indoors. Bambi, have you heard anything about this outbreak?

www.thairath.co.th/offline.php?section=hotnews&content=83515

[swain]

My wife saw a report on the news just now as well. Seems to be isolated at the moment to that area. They are talking like this is a new kind of flu like bird flu for cats and that it can be past on to live stock. All cats in and around the area where the disease broke out were destroyed . I have eight out door cats that have had all their shots...but now they are saying we should keep them inside. This would be quite a task as they have never really lived indoors. More information from anyone that has any would be appreciated.

[peter991]

Thai temples flooded with pets after viral outbreak

Wednesday Mar 26 15:10 AEDT

Buddhist temples in central Thailand have been flooded with abandoned cats and dogs after an outbreak of feline and canine distemper killed hundreds of pets in the past month, reports say.

One temple in the rice growing province of Phichit, 350km north of Bangkok, had to put up a sign asking pet owners to stop "supplying" the monastery with cats and dogs.

"Wat Bung has enough of cats and dogs," said a sign at the monastery posted on newspaper Web site www.manager.co.th.

"We prefer bricks, stones, sand, cement or paint," for construction in the temple, it said.

Each of the 50 monks' living quarters is shared by two to five cats, the Bangkok Post newspaper quoted a monk at the temple, where chicken owners abandoned their birds when the province was hit by a deadly bird flu outbreak, as saying.

The panic prompted cat-loving Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and other state agencies to urge people to take their pets back from the temples and have them vaccinated.

"Don't worry. The vets say they are hit by cat measles or cat flu," Samak told reporters. "It didn't bother me when six of my cats died at one time."

Temples remain community centres in predominantly Buddhist Thailand and people make donation to monks or temples hoping the good deeds will bring them a better next life.

"Those who abandon their pets at the temples are giving themselves sin, not merit," a senior official at the National Buddhism Office was quoted in the Thai Rath daily as saying.

Peter

[sbk]

The panic prompted cat-loving Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and other state agencies to urge people to take their pets back from the temples and have them vaccinated.

"Don't worry. The vets say they are hit by cat measles or cat flu," Samak told reporters. "It didn't bother me when six of my cats died at one time."

Well, its good he's encouraging people to vaccinate their pets but the last bit seems a tad, well, callous for a cat-lover...

[Sheryl]

I'm confused. Is it an outbreak of a new cat disease ior just distemper, against which my angel is already vaccinated? Anyone know?

As for Samak...what can you expect from someone with the blood of '76 on his hands?