British veterinarians have issued an important health advisory for UK tourists planning to visit Cyprus this summer, explicitly warning travelers to avoid cats during their stay. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) released a statement on July 24, emphasizing the need to avoid cats in Cyprus due to an ongoing outbreak of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) affecting the feline population across the popular Mediterranean destination.
Understanding the Risks When You Can’t Avoid Cats
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Dr. Justine Shotton, Senior Vice President of the British Veterinary Association, addressed the situation in the official statement. She acknowledged the concerning nature of the outbreak while providing context about the disease.
“The reported cases of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in Cyprus are understandably concerning,” Dr. Shotton noted. She clarified that FIP is already a known condition among cats in the UK, suggesting that this isn’t an entirely novel threat.
However, investigations are ongoing to determine if the Cyprus outbreak involves a new strain of the virus. This uncertainty has prompted the cautious approach recommended by veterinary professionals.
How to Avoid Cats and Protect Yourself During Cyprus Visits
The BVA has outlined specific preventative steps for British tourists visiting Cyprus during this outbreak. The primary recommendation is straightforward: avoid touching any cats while on the island, regardless of whether they appear healthy.
Additionally, travelers are advised to take disinfection measures before returning to the UK. This includes cleaning the soles of shoes and suitcase wheels to prevent inadvertently transporting the virus back to Britain.
For those planning to bring cats from Cyprus to the UK, the guidance is even stricter. The BVA recommends that all such animals should be tested for the virus before travel and should not be transported if they test positive.
Controversy Over Outbreak Statistics
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The scale of the FIP outbreak in Cyprus became a subject of controversy earlier this month. Reports claiming that 300,000 cats had died from the disease created alarm among animal welfare groups and tourists alike.
These shocking figures originated from statements by Dinos Agiomammitis, vice president of the NGO Voice for Animals. However, Agiomammitis later clarified that his words had been misinterpreted.
He explained that the figure was a hypothetical estimate based on an assumption that there are approximately 1 million cats on the island. If a mortality rate of 20-30 percent were applied to infected animals, the resulting number would indeed be around 300,000.
Official Response from Cypriot Authorities
Cypriot officials have been quick to challenge the dramatic mortality figures. Charalambos Pipis, director of Veterinary Services in Cyprus, dismissed the estimate as “baseless.”
Pipis emphasized that there is no official recorded count of cats in Cyprus, making such specific mortality claims impossible to verify. “These data are based on estimations since there is not an official recorded number of the cats in Cyprus,” he stated.
Despite the dispute over exact numbers, the continued advisory from British veterinary authorities suggests that the situation remains serious enough to warrant precautions for travelers. The recommendation to avoid contact with cats stands regardless of the precise scale of the outbreak.
For British tourists planning Cyprus holidays, the advice presents an unusual challenge in a destination known for its friendly street cats that often become unofficial attractions for visitors. However, following these precautions not only protects personal health but also helps prevent potentially spreading the virus to feline populations back home.
