(NewsNation) — An animal sanctuary in Washington state is mourning the loss of half its wild cat population after a bird flu outbreak.
The Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Shelton, Washington, about 80 miles west of Seattle, cares for displaced wild felines, such as cougars, bobcats, servals, tigers, lynxes and more. The nonprofit lost 20 cats since November. Animal health officials confirmed the cause was avian influenza, according to their Facebook.
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a contagious disease that spreads through contact with a sick bird or respiratory secretions.
“Cats are particularly vulnerable to this virus, which can cause subtle initial symptoms but progress rapidly, often resulting in death within 24 hours due to pneumonia-like conditions,” the sanctuary said on Facebook.
Wild Felid Advocacy Center is under quarantine to prevent further spread and is closed to the public until the new year.
“This tragedy has deeply affected our team, and we are all grieving the loss of these incredible animals,” the sanctuary said. “Now, we turn to the community for support as we focus on the care and recovery of our surviving felids. The mounting medical costs, even at discounted rates, have placed a significant financial strain on our sanctuary.”
The virus, also known as Type A H5N1, has been seen on dairy farms as well. Outbreaks have affected nearly 900 herds in 16 states, according to the Associated Press. California officials declared a state of emergency to respond to the outbreak.
Since April, about 60 people nationwide have been infected, according to the CDC. Human infections of bird flu are rare, but health officials confirmed the first severe case of bird flu in the U.S. this month.
