Cats in Cyprus Receive COVID-19 Drugs After Feline Coronavirus Outbreak Leaves Thousands Dead

On August 10, the health authorities in Cyprus began administering anti-COVID drugs to fight a virus that killed thousands of cats.

Feline Coronavirus Outbreak

The distribution of the drugs follows an alarming rise in feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which is brought by a type of feline coronavirus. Although this infection is widespread, most affected cats show little to no sign of illness. Only a small number of infected cats typically go on to develop FIP, which results from the mutation of the virus and the interaction of the immune system with the pathogen.

Also known as the FCoV-23 outbreak, the disease was first noticed in January in the Cypriot capital of Nicosia. Within three to four months, the disease has spread to indoor and outdoor cats on the island.

Over the past few months, FIP has rapidly spread across the cat population on the Mediterranean island. The Cyprus Veterinarians Association (CVA) surveyed 35 veterinary clinics throughout the island and discovered 8,000 feline deaths.

The outbreak is extremely concerning not only for the cat population but also for the country's caregivers, cat owners, and veterinary professionals. It also poses a risk for cats in other countries, such as the UK, where cats and their caregivers travel regularly. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh investigated the outbreak. They discovered that within 12 weeks, the number of reported cases confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test rose 20-fold compared with the previous year.

FIP is not a new virus. It has been circulating since 1963. It typically spreads through cat feces, causing symptoms such as weight loss, depression, loss of appetite, and fever. Outbreaks of FIP are rare, but they have previously occurred in the UK, US, Greece, and Taiwan. In Cyprus, the virus seemed to have a much more virulent infectious form that even indoor-only cats fell victim to it.

FIP outbreaks are rare but may occur when infection with a local type of feline coronavirus combines with the feline population, who may be at risk due to age, health conditions, and other factors such as genetics.

Cyprus is known for having a prolific feline population. According to legend, the cats were introduced by St. Helena, the mother of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, who ordered that these animals be sent from Palestine and Egypt to get rid of venomous snakes thriving on the island.

Miracle Cure for Cats

According to CVA President Nektaria Ioannou Arsenoglou, existing FIP drugs can cure cats in 85% of cases, but this treatment has been a challenge to cat caregivers due to the high price of the medication. To address this problem, the government allowed its stock of human coronavirus medication to be used on cats.

The mutated cat virus is unrelated to COVID-19 and cannot be contracted by humans. However, molnupiravir, the active ingredient in anti-COVID pills, was beneficial to infected cats.

When the government authorities announced that it would allow part of the island to use official stock of human coronavirus medication, cat owners rejoiced because anti-COVID drugs are much more affordable.

According to Cyprus veterinary services director Christodoulos Pipis, the government has taken stock of 500 boxes of COVID-19 drugs, representing the first batch of 2,000 packages containing 80,000 pills that will be made available throughout the country.