2023-08-03 18:03:01
Government to Distribute Anti-Covid Pills for Cats in Cyprus
In a recent announcement, Konstantinos Letibiotis, a government spokesman, revealed that the Cypriot government will distribute antiviral drugs originally bought to treat coronavirus cases in humans to help combat Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) on the island. The drugs in question are Remdesivir and Molnupiravir, which will be administered in the form of anti-Covid pills. Surprisingly, these medications will be distributed by veterinarians.
FIP is a fatal disease caused by the feline coronavirus (FCoV) and is prevalent among cats worldwide. Once diagnosed, without proper treatment, cats usually have a mere few weeks to months to live. Luckily, the virus does not pose a threat to human health. Despite this, authorities have recognized an ongoing FIP epidemic on the island, but the exact number of infected animals remains unknown. Disturbingly, animal organizations have reported that approximately 30 percent of Cyprus’ stray cat population has already perished due to FIP.
Amidst this crisis, the government’s decision to repurpose the surplus antiviral drugs for feline use has been met with mixed reactions. Some animal advocates applaud the initiative, hoping that it will help halt the devastating spread of FIP. Others, however, express concerns over the prioritization of animals over the ongoing fight against the human coronavirus pandemic.
In a related development, the article also highlights the quirky news of a Russian claiming to own the largest cat in the world. Though it may seem unrelated to the pressing FIP situation, it serves as a light-hearted distraction from the prevailing concerns surrounding the feline disease.
As the government proceeds with the distribution of these repurposed drugs, many hope that this intervention will bring relief to the affected feline population and bring an end to the FIP epidemic on the island.]
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