"Cat owners" don't let your pets stray into areas affected by bird flu, says French Prime Minister

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has urged cat owners not to let their pets stray into areas affected by bird flu.

The advice comes after a dead cat tested positive for the lethal H5N1 strain of the virus in Germany.

The domestic cat, found on the virus-hit Baltic island of Ruegen, was the first EU mammal to die of bird flu.

France is already vaccinating thousands of free-range poultry after 15 wild swans were found to have H5N1.

"Adhering to the principle of precaution, cat owners are asked not to let them stray in zones where the H5N1 virus has been detected," Mr de Villepin said at his monthly press conference.
Read full article via bbc news

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