CATS DO NOT TRANSMIT SARS

We were very disappointed to see the cartoon on the front page of the Straits Times, May 16^th 2003, entitled “Don’t leave food out in the open for stray animals”, which depicted a cat eating a meal and excreting what looks like a virus.

There is to date no epidemiological evidence linking animals with the transmission of SARS. Your cartoon gives the misleading and inflammatory impression that cats transmit the SARS virus.

In a statement to journalists on Thursday, Dr David Heymann, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Executive Director of Communicable Diseases, stated that there is no evidence so far that SARS can be transmitted by dogs, cats or other pets.

We would also like to point out that while there have been over eight thousand cases of transmission from person to person, not a single case has been linked to animals.

The Cat Welfare Society is concerned that cartoons like this will unduly alarm the public. We have already heard anecdotal evidence that animals are being abandoned due to people’s fears. We are concerned that public hysteria and panic would lead to many animals suffering and dying. The WHO and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore have stated that there is no evidence to date that animals spread SARS. We urge the public to remain calm and not to abandon any pet animals, as there is no need to do so.

We also believe that this cartoon may undermine the government’s efforts to get people to live their lives as per normal. Alarming people with inaccurate information will only set us back in trying to get on with our normal routines, and hinder our fight against SARS and the disruption it has already caused in our daily lives.

CWS would also like to rectify the misconception that feeding of stray animals is bad or will lead to dirtying of the environment. Feeding strays irresponsibly, by leaving food around is no different from littering and should be discouraged. However, there are many responsible cat caregivers who clean the area up and leave no trace of food. Moreover, they get the animals sterilised, leading to the population being controlled. Many caregivers are registered and work closely with the authorities.

We hope that the Straits Times, which plays such a crucial role in providing the public with information about SARS, will continue to be rational and responsible about what is published.

DR LYNN YEO

President

Cat Welfare Society