BRADENTON, Fla. (SNN) — A highly contagious and deadly virus is spreading rapidly through the cat population at the Manatee County Bishop Animal Shelter, prompting officials to take drastic action.
The shelter has temporarily suspended all cat intakes as they work to control the outbreak of panleukopenia.
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Inside the shelter, dozens of wide-eyed kittens appear healthy and playful — but looks can be deceiving. Every kitten is currently fighting panleukopenia, a virus known for its severe symptoms and high mortality rate in unvaccinated cats.
“Over the last couple of months and a half, we had a lot of cats breaking with vomiting and diarrhea,” said Dr. Syna Johnson, the shelter’s veterinarian. “We diagnosed several positive cases of panleukopenia.”…