We want to inform you that thanks to the cooperation of three research groups led by dr Łukasz Rąbalski (University of Gdańsk and the Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Warsaw), dr Maciej Grzybek (Medical University of Gdańsk), and prof. dr hab. Krzysztof Pyrcia (Jagiellonian University), the first sequence of the H5N1 influenza virus that infects cats in Poland, has been obtained.

The sequence has been made public in the GiSAID database under EPI_ISL_17949824.

Further research into the virus's biology, genetics and origin is being carried out at the institutions mentioned.

It should be recalled that a few weeks ago, there were reports of a mysterious disease in cats, which has a rapid and acute course and usually ends in death.

Among other things, cat owners are advised not to let their cats out of the house.