The National Veterinary Hospital in Thimphu receives a minimum of 10 to 15 cats infected with feline panleukopenia or feline distemper every day. However, the fatality rate has dropped from 99 per cent during the first outbreak to around 80 per cent this time. This is the third outbreak of feline distemper in the capital. The first case of infection was reported during the Covid pandemic.
Feline distemper is a cat disease caused by the feline panleukopenia virus. Veterinary doctors say the disease is highly contagious among the feline species. The disease affects kittens and unvaccinated cats.
Lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, fever and weight loss are the common symptoms among infected cats.
“From the first to the third outbreak, the mortality rate has decreased, especially because owners have come forward to vaccinate their cats and they have taken basic precautions to prevent the disease. It is also because they were aware of feline distemper and it’s helping us control the disease. But we have not been able to control it completely,” said Dr Meena Devi Samal, the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer at the National Veterinary Hospital.
She added that kittens under one year are at higher risk compared to adult cats.
Dr Meena Devi Samal added, “We do not know if it is an imported disease or not. It might have been here for a long time but maybe we failed to detect it. Since the disease is highly contagious, we have not been able to control it. This is a disease which can be prevented but difficult to cure. To prevent it, we need to vaccinate the cats.”
She added that although feline distemper is not contagious to humans, they have a risk of secondary infection due to bacteria. People are advised to maintain hygiene.
The country has confirmed the outbreak in Thimphu, Paro and Phuentshogling.
Deki Lhazom
Edited by Sangay Chezom
