LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — A third Georgia animal shelter is under cat quarantine due to the spread of a dangerous disease.
A shelter in Jefferson County just had its quarantine expire Friday.
Last week, Channel 2 Action News reported on Etowah Valley Humane Society in Bartow County, where the deadly feline distemper virus had forced a quarantine. The director there says 22 cats are under quarantine until July 8.
Monday, officials at the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter on Winder Highway in Lawrenceville say they are going through the same quarantine process.
Workers at the shelter found a dead kitten Saturday from an apparent case of Panleuk, a dangerous and highly contagious disease.
Officials say the deceased kitten was one of two feral cats recently accepted into the shelter.
To ensure the disease does not spread to other cats, all of the cats are now under quarantine for 14 days.
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Officials put a freeze on accepting new cats and on adoptions until the quarantine is over.
“We don’t want to take any chances,” said Gwinnett County Animal Shelter Manager Curt Harrell. “We want to hold off for 14 days before we intake or release anything for adoptions just to make sure we don’t have any further incidents of Panleuk inside the shelter.”
While the disease is deadly, it is curable, officials say.
“Yes, if you catch it in time,” Harrell said. “However, it’s one of those diseases that by the time you really notice it on the animal, it’s very tough to save them.”
Staff is monitoring the cats for symptoms of Panleuk, including dehydration and diarrhea.
“What the officers are doing for safety precaution is they’re putting on protective gear, they’re cleaning each cat pen, taking the one protective suit off, putting a new one on,” Harrell said.
Workers are taking a lot of precaution, as well. Despite the dangerous situation, one worker feels that she is safe.
“I feel very comfortable coming in here walking through, so yeah, we feel safe,” the worker said.
Shelter officials say the quarantine does not affect dogs, and they’re still available for adoption.