A wildlife sanctuary in Washington announced it is going into quarantine until further notice after 20 big cats died due to bird flu infections. 

The Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Shelton, Washington, reported that 20 of its large cats, including a half-Bengal tiger and four cougars, died between late November and mid-December after contracting an unknown illness, which later was identified as H5N1 avian influenza, or bird flu.

EGG PRICES JUMP AHEAD OF HOLIDAY DUE TO BIRD FLU OUTBREAK

Since October 2021, H5N1 bird flu has ravaged the wild bird population, killing more than 117,000 wild birds across 315 species and 79 countries. Marine mammals have also been devastated by the disease, with tens of thousands of sea lions and other species washing up on the shores of South America. 

Public health experts have been on heightened alert about bird flu since April, when the first case of the disease was reported among dairy cattle. It has since spread to more than 850 herds across the United States, with more than 60 confirmed human cases.

Multiple house cats have died from bird flu in recent months, most having been exposed to the virus either through unpasteurized milk or through killing infected prey.

The Wild Felid Advocacy Center is a nonprofit organization receiving no federal or state funding and houses approximately 40 wild cats at a time, according to its website. Species include cougars, bobcats, servals, tigers, and African leopards, among others.

The facility said it is working with state and federal public health officials to monitor the symptoms of human workers and other animals after H5N1 cases have been confirmed in the big cats in the sanctuary. 

Bird flu infections can cause cats to deteriorate rapidly, with symptoms progressing from lethargy and breathing problems to neurological damage, including seizures, tremors, and difficulty walking.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

In humans, most cases of bird flu contracted from cows and poultry result in a severe case of conjunctivitis, or pink eye, and mild upper respiratory symptoms. 

Last week, however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first case of hospitalization due to bird flu. The patient, from Louisiana, likely contracted the virus from wild migratory birds, a strain known to be more deadly to humans.