More than 20 cats in Poland have been found to be infected with bird flu, according to the World Health Organization, although no people appear to have fallen ill.

The U.N. released a statement on Monday, according to The Associated Press. 

In the midst of an extraordinary global outbreak of the most recent strain of the disease, H5N1, the health agency claimed it was the first time so many cats had been recorded to have bird flu over such a vast geographic area in a single country.

According to WHO, Polish authorities notified the organization's representatives late last month about the strange deaths of more than 45 cats across 13 different areas of the nation. 29 were discovered to have H5N1 after testing last week.

Read also: Bird Flu Could Lead to Next Pandemic; Mutations Might Allow H5N1 Strains to Infect Humans

H5N1 Cases In the World

In Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, cases of the most current H5N1 strain in birds and other animal species have been documented as of June. WHO reported that twelve human cases had been reported since 2020.

Scientists are concerned that an increase in H5N1 cases, particularly in animals that interact with people frequently, may result in a modified strain of the illness that is more likely to spread between individuals and start a new pandemic.

Many researchers believed that the next worldwide outbreak will be caused by H5N1 before the COVID-19 pandemic. Although bird flu has sickened fewer than 900 people since 2003 and has not been able to spread widely among humans, it has killed hundreds of millions of birds worldwide.

The WHO reported that it was unclear how the domestic cats in Poland contracted the H5N1 virus and that authorities were still looking into potential exposure sources, such as interaction with wild birds known to be carriers.

The organization stated that the danger of contracting bird flu in Poland was "low" and "low to moderate" for those who were exposed to cats, such as cat owners and veterinarians.

Last Monday, the WHO and its collaborators issued a warning about the unexpected rise in the number of H5N1-infected mammals.

Prior to now, experts have issued warnings that pigs, which are vulnerable to both human and avian flu viruses, may serve as a "mixing vessel," causing the creation of mutant viruses that may be fatal to humans.

Authorities have noted bird flu outbreaks in mammals in ten nations since last year, including farmed mink in Spain, seals in the United States, and sea lions in Peru and Chile.

Bird flu is spread through contact with infected birds or their droppings. It can also be spread through the air, but this is less common. Symptoms of bird flu in humans can include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, and fatigue. In some cases, bird flu can cause more serious complications, such as pneumonia and respiratory failure.

There is no specific treatment for bird flu, but there are antiviral medications that can help to reduce the severity of the illness. If you think you may have been exposed to bird flu, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.

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