In a notable development, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that over two dozen cats have tested positive for bird flu in various regions of Poland. This marks the first instance of such a significant number of cats infected by the virus concurrently within a single country, coinciding with an unprecedented global outbreak of the H5N1 strain of the disease.
Recently, Polish authorities informed the WHO of the unusual deaths of more than 45 cats spread across 13 regions of the country. Subsequent testing confirmed that 29 of these cats were infected with H5N1.
Since June, this latest variant of H5N1 has been identified in birds and other animal species across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The WHO has reported a dozen human cases since 2020. Scientists express concern that the rising incidence of H5N1, particularly in animals frequently interacting with humans, could lead to a mutated strain that may spread easily among people, potentially triggering another pandemic.
Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many experts had speculated that the next global outbreak could originate from H5N1. Despite the death toll of hundreds of millions of birds worldwide, the virus has infected fewer than 900 humans since 2003 and has not demonstrated significant capacity for human-to-human transmission.
The WHO is currently investigating how these domestic cats in Poland contracted bird flu, including potential exposure through contact with wild birds known to carry the virus. The agency has assessed the risk of human infection in Poland as “low” and “low to moderate” for individuals who may have been in contact with infected cats, such as cat owners and veterinarians.
The WHO and its partner agencies recently issued a warning regarding the increasing incidence of H5N1 infections among mammals, which is considered unusual. Experts have raised alarms about the potential for pigs—susceptible to influenza viruses from both humans and birds—to act as a “mixing vessel,” leading to the emergence of mutated strains that could pose serious risks to human health. Since last year, ten countries have reported bird flu outbreaks in various mammals, including farmed minks in Spain, seals in the United States, and sea lions in Peru and Chile.
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