Cats: agents of death

by Gene on Jan. 25th, 2007
in Life Science and Human Organism

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Cute, fluffy...and deadly?: Photo from Snap!Can you tell I'm not a cat person? ;-)

Researchers report that bird flu mutates in cats faster than previously thought. Many human diseases originate in other animals, eventually mutating into a form that can infect us. AIDS is believed to have evolved from a similar disease in apes, and various strains of human flu reside in birds and farm animals before mutating and passing on to humans.

So far, very few people have been infected with "Bird flu" -- it seems to be hard for us to catch in its current form. But if it takes up residence in another mammal, it could mutate into a form that's much more deadly to us.

In the immortal words of Jan Hobson, it's time to throw your cat away.

(Kidding!)

Your Comments, Thoughts, Questions, Ideas

MrScience says:

Yet another reason to keep cats inside.

-Jonah

"God grant me the company of those who seek the truth. And God deliver me from those who have found it."
-Isaac Newton

posted on Fri, 01/26/2007 - 8:48pm

Anonymous says:

I think people are too afraid of bird flu. It has always been here and we will develop a natural immunity eventually. Until that time the big guy upstairs is "thinning the herd."

posted on Tue, 01/30/2007 - 12:12pm

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