NICOSIA, CYPRUS – Cyprus’ Veterinarians Association has commended the government’s decision to allow the use of human coronavirus medication on cats to combat a local mutation of a feline virus. The mutation, causing Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), has led to thousands of cat deaths on the Mediterranean island. While it can’t be transmitted to humans, it poses a serious threat to the feline population.
The association had sought access to the medication, known as Lagevrio with Molnupiravir as the active ingredient, at reasonable prices since the emergence of the mutation earlier this year. The treatment will be available in pill form, and cat owners can obtain it for 2.5 euros ($2.74) per pill after a formal examination and diagnosis by their local veterinarian.
Health Ministry senior pharmacist Costas Himonas confirmed that 2,000 packages of the drug will be provided to veterinarians over the next month, and this distribution won’t compromise the supply for human COVID-19 treatment.
The mutated feline virus has raised concerns among animal activists, who claimed it had killed up to 300,000 cats. However, the Veterinarians Association and Cyprus Veterinary Services clarified that the actual number of deaths was around 8,000 based on survey findings.
FIP is nearly always fatal if left untreated, but with medication, approximately 85% of cases can be nursed back to health, regardless of whether it’s the “wet” or “dry” form of the illness. The high cost of the medication had previously made treatment unaffordable for many cat caregivers.
The feline coronavirus responsible for FIP has been present since 1963, but previous epidemics subsided without medication. To prevent the export of the mutation, mandatory medical check-ups for all cats destined for adoption abroad have been implemented.
In Cyprus, feral cats are cherished and have a long history dating back thousands of years, making it crucial to safeguard their health and wellbeing from this deadly mutation.