First case of cat passing TB to humans

[angieh]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/first-cases-alert-pet-cats-spread-tb-to-four-people-9220060.html

This was on the News this evening. A worrying development, double cross-species infection, if I understand rightly, as it is the bovine form. Atm, very rare.

[fecto's mum]

I wish the media would report things like this without scaring the crap out of people. How many cats will be dumped or handed in to rescue centres because people think they are going to get TB. Most cats will never come across a badger in their life. Also cats will not fight with a badger, they are far too big and nasty. I hope cat owners will think about the reality of contracting TB before jumping to any rash conclusions.

[PoshPuss]

I thought the same FM and I'm scared that people will demonise cats again. It was, and still is, bad enough that cats get dumped because a woman is pregnant and there are scare stories about cats and babies. Like they need another excuse! The Public Health spokesman has stressed the very low risk, but it should be made clear it's extremely unlikely. More chance of winning the lottery, the reporter said, but then everyone thinks they'll win one day!

TB is far more likely by human to human contact, than ever by cat-human transmission.

[lynz85]

arent most people immunised against TB, or is this a different strain? i dont think its a thing we need to be worrying about but you know there are people that over react!

[Kazz]

I heard this today and thought "oh Lord" that's loads of cats going to be dumped/killed/abused. Scare reporting.

[fecto's mum]

I was vaccinated at school long time ago but they stopped the vac for some stupid reason, probably to save money. Don't know if it's been reintroduced. Most human beings never see a badger let alone cats. I've never heard of any cats with TB before. When I lived in Wales on the farm me and Mum had 13 cats between us. They must have crossed paths (literally) with badgers at some point and none of them ever contracted anything except ticks from the sheep and bracken and fleas from rabbits. Also for those people who say cats are responsible for murdering thousands of songbirds, there are loads of birds on the farm, including red kite because my brother and step Dad control the magpies and crows. Out of the 13 cats only 3 or 4 killed things.