Two British cats infected with tuberculosis

Two British cats infected with TBC

03/29/2014

Two people in the UK have been infected with tuberculosis in cats. The Public Health England (PHE) reported that the animals had been infected with the pathogen Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis).

Both cases occurred last year
Two people have been infected with tuberculosis in cats in the English cities of Berkshire and Hampshire. Public Health England (PHE) said the animals were infected with the pathogen Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). Out of a total of 39 people who had been in contact with the affected cats, 24 had been tested for tuberculosis. In this case, an active infection was detected in two cases. According to the authorities, both patients had responded well to the medication administered. The cases had already occurred in March of last year. Since then there have been no new cases.

Transfers of animals to humans are rare
In addition to cats, M. Bovis can induce tuberculosis in other animals, such as sheep, goats, horses, dogs and zoo animals. This writes the nationwide competent Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) on the Baltic island of Riems. As Spokesperson Elke Reinking said, the FDL in Germany are not aware of cases of transmission from cats to humans. As reported by the Institute on the Internet, transmissions of M. bovis from animals to humans are rare and affect a total of about one percent of tuberculosis patients. Above all, the transmission of tuberculosis by cattle was known, but also on raw milk, the bacteria could be taken.

Tuberculosis can be treated with antibiotics
Tuberculosis, one of the most dangerous infectious diseases in the world, is caused by bacteria that primarily attack the lugh. The disease, also known as tuberculosis, can usually be treated with antibiotics unless it is a multidrug-resistant disease. Tuberculosis is characterized by a variety of symptoms including persistent cough, chronic fatigue, weight loss, nocturnal sweat fever, or chest pain. In most cases, untreated tuberculosis leads to death. (Ad)

Picture: Denise