Sick cats in Cyprus start COVID drug therapy

Cats in Cyprus are being given human COVID-19 medication in an effort to gradual the unfold of a feline mutation of the virus that has left 1000’s of animals useless on the island.

Cats began getting the medicine on Tuesday, which coincidentally was International Cat Day.

Speaking to The Guardian, Christodoulos Pipis, the federal government’s veterinary providers director, mentioned: “We have taken stock of 500 boxes of medication.

“This is the primary batch of two,000 packages that can be made out there. Each one incorporates 40 capsules, so we’re speaking a few complete of 80,000 tablets.”

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which can’t be transmitted to people, has been spreading among the many island’s cats since January.

It just isn’t associated to COVID-19 however will be handled with a medicine referred to as Lagevrio, which is used to deal with coronavirus in people.

Dinos Ayiomamitis, head of Cats PAWS Cyprus, beforehand instructed Sky News the outbreak would have “catastrophic” penalties if it reached the UK.

Mr Ayiomamitis and different animals activists have mentioned the virus has killed round 300,000 cats on the island.

Read extra:
Homes needed after ‘influx’ of cats at charity
Deadly cat virus could be ‘potentially catastrophic for UK’

Costas Himonas, senior pharmacist on the Cyprus well being ministry, has mentioned 2,000 packages of the drug can be made out there to vets incrementally over the subsequent month.

Mr Himonas mentioned there isn’t any danger that present pharmaceutical shares can be depleted to the purpose that therapy of any COVID-19 surge in folks can be compromised.

FIP has been round since 1963 and is unfold by means of contact with cat faeces.

If left untreated, it may be deadly for the animals.