The British public health service has recently announced that cats can transmit TB to their owners. Although this is very rare, it can still happen.

A Study

In fact, a study was conducted in eastern and southern England last year to test this. A dozen cats carrying the virus, Mycobacterium Bovis, were tested and studied.

A specialist in the animal health sciences said: “These cats were probably infected by being bitten by badgers or rodents.”

Transmission to humans

Cases of TB transmissions from cats to humans are however, very rare. Scientists have specified that the transmission of tuberculosis could be from inhaling bacteria produced by the cats.

The disease mainly affects the lungs and sometimes other parts of the body like the nervous system or bones. According to the scientists, apparently the two people infected by a cat have been responding well to treatment.

View our health section to learn more about cat diseases.

Source: Le Figaro

Photo: Thinkstock

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