Published on 17 July 2001

Spongiform Encephalopathy in a Cat

Bern, 17.7.2001 - A 6-year-old cat from the canton Vaud was confirmed to have a so-called feline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE). FSE belongs to the group of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies similar to BSE. This is the first case of FSE reported in Switzerland. Though the cause of the infection is unknown it is very likely that the cat was fed infectious food many years ago. Humans are not exposed to any danger by FSE.