Carson animal shelter spared panleukopenia outbreak

The Carson City animal shelter has seen no outbreak of feline panleukopenia despite the virus affecting the Nevada Humane Society’s Reno facility.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reported Friday the NHS facility in Reno suspended intakes of cats and kittens after more than 50 felines showed symptoms over a number of weeks. Eleven have died from the disease, and many are still in isolation, according to the Reno newspaper.

On Monday, NHS Marketing Director Nicole Theodoulou confirmed the Carson shelter, which is run by NHS, had not experienced an outbreak of the deadly virus.

“The only exposure and positive cases were at the Reno shelter,” she said.

Theodoulou said it’s hard to know just how many cats died because of the virus, but NHS is working with medical partners around the country to help felines still affected in the Reno area. She said NHS is also working on best practices “to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

“We’re waiving adoption fees on all pets,” she said, explaining this will help free up resources to focus on infected felines. “We have been hard at work trying to save them.”

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the feline parvovirus. It does not infect people but can be fatal to cats, especially kittens. Symptoms include loss of appetite, high fever, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and nasal discharge. Vaccines are designed to prevent infection.

For more information about the Carson City animal shelter, visit https://nevadahumanesociety.org/nevada-humane-society-carson-city/.