Viral outbreak sweeps Michigan; state confirms FPV

SAGINAW COUNTY, MICH.—Michigan veterinarians and shelter officials are reporting hundreds of cats infected with feline panleukopenia virus (FPV).

At presstime, Saginaw County Animal Care Center employees estimated at least 800 cats dead.

But as Michigan Department of Agriculture officials confirm the FPV outbreak, Dr. Steve Halstead, companion animal programs manager with the state veterinarian's office, downplays the incidences, citing "no more than a routine situation with panleukopenia."

Put simply, conditions in Michigan are ripe for FPV, he says.

"It's a factor of hot summer weather and a largely unprotected population," he says. "The virus does quite well in these environmental conditions. I'm not saying we are seeing this on a predictable basis, but you can anticipate a flare-up."

Struck hard

Mark Wachner, director of Saginaw Animal Care Center, says he's taking cases seriously. The center, servicing about 816 square miles, shut its doors for 72 hours during the outbreak's peak, he says.

"I've been in this business for 25 years, and I've never seen anything like this as related to this disease," he says. "It started this spring and since then, we've just gotten hammered."

In June 2003, Saginaw Animal Care Center employees euthanized 162 cats. This June, that number reached 397.

"This is a very aggressive virus," he says. "We want definitive answers as to how to better deal with this."

Prevention

For starters, Halstead recommends all Michigan cats be kept indoors and owners should minimize contact with any cats other than their own. Local veterinarians are being asked to educate the public, and the state veterinarian's office is requesting the Saginaw Country Veterinary Medical Association members spread additional information.

"We're recommending owners vaccinate," Halstead says. "Owners, themselves, should guard against contagious viral transmission."