Feline Coronavirus Killing Cats

Update:  Veterinarians on Cyprus have begun to distribute COVID pills intended for humans to the island's cat population decimated by feline coronavirus.  The virus causes feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which is almost always fatal without treatment.  The outbreak of FCoV-23 began in Nicosia in January and spread to the entire island in three to four months.  Although the feline virus is not related to COVID-19 in humans, molnupiravir has proved beneficial to cats diagnosed with FIP.  The particular strain of coronavirus is exceptionally virulent; even in-door only pets are falling ill.  Cyprus has a huge population of feral felines; cat advocates criticized the government's announcement of available medication as a "firework" midst an unspoken policy of population control. Vets on the island estimate that about 8,000 cats have already died. Each pill pack of about 40 pills will cost about 100€.  Scientists from the University of Edinburgh are sequencing the virus genome. 

{07.17.2023} Cyprus, known as "Cat Island", is full of cats with an estimated population of over a million.  The earliest known remains of a domesticated cat were found on the island.  Many of the cats are feral and a deadly disease is infecting them.  Feline Infectious Peritonitis, which is not transmissible to humans, has spread rapidly. Deaths far exceed the officially reported 107.  A cat advocacy group says that since January 300,000 cats have died from the highly infectious feline coronavirus.  Infected cats suffer from fever, abdominal swelling, dehydration, and weakness before succumbing, if left untreated.

Archeological evidence of cats on the island dates back at least 9,500 years ago, to a deliberate burial of a human and cat together. Legend says that Roman empress St. Helena brought cats to the island 1700 years ago to deal with poisonous snakes that infested a local monestary.  That bond between feline and human has remained to this day with feline lovers taking care of the island's burgeoning cat colony.  The Cyprus outbreak is thought to have come from the Levant, but that theory is not yet confirmed.

Two treatments are suggested to contain the spread of the virus. One is molnupiravir, which Cyprus officials say cannot be authorized for veterinary use, and the other is GS-44152, similar to the COVID treatment, remdesivir. It is approved for veterinary use in Britain, but is probibitively expensive at a minimum $3,300 per cat. Molnupiravir only costs $200€ per cat. A black market has sprung up to save beloved animals, pets and strays. Some Cyprians may think the disease is a blessing in disguse since the island has too many cats. Advocates, however, are demanding government action to prevent Cyprus from becoming the island of dead cats.