Asia's bird flu strikes house cats

Posted on 2004-02-21 13:07:46 in Infectious Disease |

BANGKOK, Thailand — Bird flu has jumped to new species in Asia, killing three house cats and infecting a white tiger in Thailand, officials said Friday. The pet cats in Nakhon Pathom province outside Bangkok are the first domesticated mammals known to have contracted the disease in the current outbreak. Thai veterinarian Dr. Teeraphon Sirinaruemit also said a white tiger at Khao Khiew zoo near Bangkok was found to have the virus, but it has since recovered and is in good health. The zoo is the same where a clouded leopard died of bid flu last month, the first mammal apart from humans known to have died from the virus this year.

Source: http://ap.thekansan.com/stories/health/20040220/1913251.shtml

[Editor: The preceding article was not written by A4M/WHN]

Health Headlines

Apples Promote Immune Health

Soluble fiber, such as pectin found in apples, may confer anti-inflammatory effects and strengthen the immune system.

Naps May Raise Diabetes Risk

Chinese study reveals that frequent napping is associated with an elevated prevalence of type-2 diabetes and impaired fasting glucose.

Insufficient Sleep Prompts Fat

Five hours or less of sleep a night corresponds to large increases in visceral fat.

Sense of Purpose Slashes Alzheimer’s Risk

Rush University (US) researchers find that older men and women who maintain a purpose in life are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease.

Elevated Inflammatory Markers in Childhood Warn of Future Heart Disease

Obese children as young as three years old may have elevated levels of C-Reactive Protein and other inflammatory markers linked to heart disease in adulthood.

Omega-3s Boost Brain Function

Healthy middle-aged men and women with higher blood levels of DHA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid, perform better on tests of reasoning, memory, and vocabulary.

The Epidemic of Cognitive Decline

University of California researchers project that the nation’s oldest men and women will experience an 18% annual dementia incidence that increases with age.

B-Vitamin May Promote Brain Function Recovery After Stroke

Vitamin B3, niacin, is shown to assist with the recovery of brain function, in a lab animal model of stroke.

Coffee May Slash Stroke Risk

Large-scale UK study finds that just a single cup of coffee a day cuts stroke risk by 30%.

The Multi-Benefits of Multivitamins

Chinese study reveals that multivitamins and minerals may confer a wealth of benefits, including reduced body weight and improved blood fat levels.