The **avian flu in Washington**, United States, is having more serious consequences than expected. Recently, **[20 large felines from a sanctuary died](https://noticiasambientales.com/animales/decenas-de-tigres-mueren-tras-contraer-gripe-aviar-en-el-sur-de-vietnam/)** due to the virus. This represents more than half of the population of the place.
The **[Wild Felid Advocacy Center](https://www.wildfelids.org/index.html)** confirmed the sad news on their social media last Friday. “A great nightmare,” described the director and co-founder of the center, **Mark Mathews**. What causes avian flu and how can it be prevented.
### Avian flu in Washington: what happened at the sanctuary
The sanctuary, located in **Shelton**, about 35 kilometers northwest of **Olympia**, went through tragic weeks.
Among the **[20 [animals that died](https://noticiasambientales.com/ciencia/muertes-masivas-de-elefantes-marinos-en-la-antartida-a-causa-de-gripe-aviar/)** were: five African servals, four lynxes, four pumas, two Canadian lynxes, a mix of Amur and Bengal tiger, and other species of large felines.
At the moment, it is not known exactly how the large felines contracted avian flu, but Mathews said that the first death occurred around **Thanksgiving Day**, at the end of November.
“I never thought something like this would happen to us,” Mathews added, to **KOMO**, a **CNN** affiliate. “Maybe only in a facility with felines close to each other, and ours are spread over five acres,” he said.
“Before Thanksgiving, we had 37 felines. Today, we have 17, (including) four that are recovering,” detailed the director.
The sanctuary is in quarantine and closed to the public to prevent further spread of avian flu, as stated in a release. The sanctuary hopes to reopen in the new year.
The center said it is working with **federal and state animal health officials**, disinfecting each enclosure and working with veterinarians on “**prevention strategies** while monitoring treatment to protect the well-being of the animals”.
### What is avian flu and why it affects felines
Avian flu, also known as **[avian influenza](https://noticiasambientales.com/ciencia/muertes-masivas-de-elefantes-marinos-en-la-antartida-a-causa-de-gripe-aviar/)**, is a **highly contagious viral disease** that mainly affects birds. However, it can also infect other **animals and humans**.
“It spreads mainly through **respiratory secretions** and contact between birds, and can also be contracted by **carnivorous mammals** that ingest birds or other products,” detailed the shelter.
**Felines are especially vulnerable** to avian flu, which can cause subtle initial symptoms but “progress rapidly, often causing **death within 24 hours** due to pneumonia-like conditions,” the center points out.
So far, no **person-to-person transmission** caused by avian flu virus has been reported worldwide. In 19 years, from 2003 to 2022, only 868 cases in humans were reported.
### Symptoms
The symptoms, according to the **[American Veterinary Medical Association](https://noticiasambientales.com/ciencia/muertes-masivas-de-elefantes-marinos-en-la-antartida-a-causa-de-gripe-aviar/)**, include:
– Low energy
– Swelling of body parts
– Lack of coordination
– Diarrhea in pet birds
– Cats and dogs can experience **fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite**, among other symptoms
### Avian flu in Washington
The **Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife** previously reported this month that cases of avian flu had increased throughout the state. It also confirmed that two pumas contracted the disease elsewhere in the state.
The **Centers for Disease Control and Prevention** (CDC) in the United States clarified that “it is rare” for people to become infected with the virus through contact with infected wild, stray, feral, or domestic mammals.
However, it is possible if there is “prolonged and unprotected exposure” to the sick animal. Therefore, **care must be reinforced**.
According to the CDC, there have been two cases of avian flu transmitted to humans by mammals: one in **2016, in a feline, and another in 2024**, in a cow.
### Avian flu: prevention measures
– **Frequent handwashing** with soap and water, or use of alcohol-based sanitizers
– Avoid direct contact with wild birds.
– Do not have unprotected contact with sick or dead poultry.
– Do not touch surfaces that may be **contaminated with saliva, mucus, or feces** from wild or poultry birds.
– Currently, there are no restrictions on traveling to areas affected by avian influenza. However, it is advisable to take necessary prevention measures to avoid the risk of contracting the disease.
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