Cyprus Takes Unconventional Step: Administers Anti-Covid Pills to Combat Fatal Feline Coronavirus

Veterinary services deploy human anti-Covid medication to curb the lethal FIP outbreak affecting Cyprus' cat population.

In a groundbreaking move, Cyprus has initiated a campaign to tackle the devastating impact of a virulent strain of feline coronavirus that has led to the deaths of numerous cats across the island. Veterinary services have obtained a supply of anti-Covid pills, originally intended for human use, to combat the deadly feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) outbreak.

Commencing on International Cat Day, August 8, Cyprus' health ministry began distributing the first batch of the anti-Covid pills. This initiative is anticipated to mark a turning point in the battle against the highly contagious and fatal FIP disease that has been wreaking havoc among the Mediterranean nation's cat population.

Christodoulos Pipis, Director of the Government's Veterinary Services, confirmed the reception of 500 boxes of medication, constituting the initial portion of a total of 2,000 packages, each containing 40 capsules, equating to a significant 80,000 anti-Covid pills.

The outbreak, known as the "FCoV-23 outbreak," emerged in Nicosia, Cyprus' capital, in January. Within just a few months, it spread throughout the entire island. Collaborative efforts between the University of Edinburgh and the Pancyprian Veterinary Association (PVA) identified a 20-fold surge in FIP cases, confirmed through PCR tests, compared to the previous year.

Dr. Charalampos Attipa, leader of the University of Edinburgh's veterinary clinical pathology team, emphasized the urgency of understanding the mutation responsible for this highly virulent FCoV strain. Molnupiravir, the active ingredient in the anti-Covid pills, has demonstrated potential in treating FIP-infected cats.

Despite the feline virus's dissimilarity to Covid-19 and its non-transmissibility to humans, the promising effects of anti-Covid pills on FIP-stricken cats have fueled this unconventional approach. Feline coronavirus, transmitted through infected cats' feces and subsequent contact, was initially identified in the 1960s. Previous FIP outbreaks, though rare, have emerged in countries like the UK, US, Taiwan, and Greece, but typically within confined catteries.

Cyprus' situation deviates from the norm, with the virus displaying heightened infectiousness even among indoor-only cats. Zelia Gregoriou, an assistant professor at the University of Cyprus, lamented the lack of comprehensive action for cats' well-being, dubbing the situation an "economy of death."

The island's Cat Protection and Welfare Society (PAWS) made a striking assertion that around 300,000 felines, both domestic and stray, have perished due to the rapid transmission rates of FIP since January. Local veterinarians offered a more conservative estimate of 8,000 deaths in the first half of 2023, underscoring the severity of the outbreak.

Nektaria Ioannou Arsenoglou, President of the PVA, applauded the approval of the anti-Covid drug, highlighting its potential to save more feline lives. The prohibitively high cost of other antiviral treatments has prompted a pursuit for more accessible therapeutic solutions.

As Cyprus extends its official human coronavirus medication supply for feline use, the cost-effective approach is met with enthusiasm from cat owners. With each pack priced at €100, the distribution will benefit from veterinary prescriptions, ensuring proper administration and care for afflicted cats.

Known for its abundant feline population, Cyprus holds a unique place in cat history, attributed to a legend involving St. Helena. As the University of Edinburgh intensifies its research on the outbreak, potential travel restrictions for cats to and from Cyprus are under consideration to curb the virus's spread.

Dr. Attipa emphasized the global significance of studying and sequencing the feline coronavirus, as insights gained from this outbreak could have far-reaching benefits for cat health worldwide.