Bird Flu Claims Rare Cats in Vietnam

The death of three endangered civet cats in Vietnam from bird flu has scientists worried the virus will start spreading to mammals.

Dr. Diana Bell of the University of East Angalia said the focus on containing the bird flu virus will now need to expand beyond poultry and humans, Science Daily reports.

Eighty percent of the human cases of bird flu have occurred in Vietnam. Fifty-seven people have died and 112 infected.

The virus can already infect bird species’ and has decimated flocks of poultry from China and Russia.

The rare civet cats were found dead in the Cuc Phuong National Park, south of Hanoi. Researchers are trying to figure out how the cats got infected.