Zoonotic diseases can spread from animals, including the ones we consume or keep as pets, including cats. Why are we talking about cats today? It is because of the increasing numbers of bird flu in the United States, cats of all shapes and sizes have come down with bird flu.

Bird flu was seen in poultry, where chickens have been affected, and even cows too. Why is it a concern for cats? This is because barn cats drink raw milk. In recent days, 20 wild cats at a Washington State animal sanctuary that ate infected birds and other reports of indoor cats dying from eating contaminated food have come out.

Why do cats get bird flu?

One of the leading causes is that unlike dogs, cats hunt for smaller prey, which includes birds and mice, carriers of bird flu. Dr Michael Bailey, the president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), in a guidance released for cat owners noted that by their very nature, cats have more "opportunity" to ger infected with bird flu.

“We don't know if the cats are more susceptible than anybody else,” he said. “It's just the fact they're exposed to higher viral burdens because of where they go.”

Reports say that domestic cats have been bird flu virus carrier since 2004. Kristen Coleman, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health told a media outlet that before, about half of cats died, and now with the spreading of the bird flu even in cows, about 90% of them seem to be dying. Coleman has also been tracking the deaths. She has also shared 4 main tips to protect pets from bird flu which includes:

• Do not touch or allow pets to touch sick or dead animals or animal dropping
• Do not consume, or feed your pet, raw meat or milk
• Keep a close watch on free-roaming outdoor pets
• Immediately report rabies-like symptoms to a veterinarian

Are there symptoms of bird flu in cats one should look out for?

As per AVMA, pet owners must look out for signs like:

• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Fever

Bird flu infection can also progress with neurologic signs, which includes:

• Tremors
• Seizures
• Not being coordinated
• Blindness

Cats may also suffer from:

• Severe depression
• Discharge from their eyes or nose
• Respiratory symptoms which includes rapid breathing, shortness of breath, and sneezing or coughing

Are humans at threat?

Sick animals may also be able to transmit influenza virus to humans through their saliva, excretion and other bodily fluids. People can also get infected by breathing in the virus or by touching something that has virus on it and then touching their eyes, mouth, or nose.

If you think your cat might have bird flu—or any other infectious disease—try to limit their contact with other pets and people in your household, especially those with weakened immune systems, until you get advice from a veterinarian, as recommended by the AVMA. While the chances of cats transmitting H5N1 to humans are extremely low, they aren’t zero.

According to CDC guidance, keep an eye on yourself and your family for flu-like symptoms and reach out to a healthcare provider if needed. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your cat or cleaning their litter box and bedding.

Researchers from University College London (UCL) have found that quitting smoking may help slow age-related memory decline and protect brain health as we age. According to new research, people who quit smoking in middle age can significantly slow their cognitive decline, so much so that within a decade, their risk of developing dementia becomes nearly identical to those who have never smoked. The study adds to growing evidence that giving up cigarettes can protect brain health and delay age-related mental decline.

This One Step Can Lower Your Dementia Risk, Doctors Say

Published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, the study examined data from more than 9,400 adults aged 40 and older across 12 countries. The findings strengthen existing evidence that giving up cigarettes could reduce the risk of dementia, though experts note that further research is needed to understand the full impact of smoking cessation on cognitive health.

Researchers noted that while the link between smoking and poor cognitive health is well known, the long-term effects of quitting have been less certain. In this study, memory and verbal fluency tests showed that people who stopped smoking experienced a slower rate of decline in the six years following cessation.

Experts said the findings are especially important because middle-aged and older adults are often less inclined to quit, despite facing greater health risks. Demonstrating that quitting can also help preserve brain function, they added, could serve as a strong new reason for this group to give up smoking.

Data shows that smoking is most common among adults aged 25 to 34, with about 14 percent identifying as smokers, while only 8.2 percent of those over 65 reported smoking. Responding to the UCL study, Dr. Julia Dudley, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said smoking is tied to several major health risks, including cancer, heart disease, and dementia—particularly Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. She emphasized that quitting can greatly lower the likelihood of developing these conditions.

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term for a group of symptoms that affect a person's ability to think, remember, and reason to the point that it interferes with daily life. It is not a normal part of aging, but is caused by damage to brain cells, which can result from conditions like Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, or Lewy body dementias. Symptoms include memory loss, confusion, difficulty with language and problem-solving, and changes in mood or behavior, and the condition worsens over time.

What Causes Dementia?

Dementia develops when diseases damage brain cells, disrupting how they communicate with one another. This breakdown in communication affects memory, thinking, behavior, and emotions. The brain is made up of different regions, each responsible for specific functions such as judgment, movement, and memory. When cells in a certain area are harmed, that part of the brain can no longer perform normally.

Each type of dementia is linked to damage in particular brain regions. In Alzheimer’s disease, for instance, an abnormal buildup of proteins inside and around brain cells prevents them from staying healthy and transmitting signals effectively. The hippocampus, responsible for learning and memory, is usually the first area affected, which is why memory loss tends to be one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s.

It has been five years since COVID first appeared, and over this period, case numbers have both surged and declined. Suruchi Sood, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, notes that some delays in COVID tracking by the Centers for Disease Control are partly due to the government shutdown. Based on the available data and her own clinical observations, she says, “We don’t seem to be seeing, thankfully, yet, an uptick of COVID.” However, she points out that another respiratory illness is currently gaining ground in the country.

Not Covid, But This Disease Is Spreading

Although COVID-19 cases are declining, many people are still experiencing congestion and sore throats. Dr. Steven Gordon, chairman of the Department of Infectious Disease at the Cleveland Clinic, noted that recent lab data from Northeast Ohio show SARS-CoV-2 activity continuing to fall from its summer peak, with last week’s COVID positivity rate at 5%.

At the same time, infections caused by rhinovirus, the common cold virus, and other enteroviruses have been rising, with a 20% positivity rate. While these numbers are specific to Northeast Ohio, they reflect broader trends reported by the CDC, which show increasing rhinovirus and enterovirus cases as of late September.

What Is Rhinovirus?

Rhinovirus is a widespread virus and the leading cause of the common cold, though it can also trigger other respiratory conditions such as asthma flare-ups, bronchitis, and pneumonia. It spreads through respiratory droplets, direct contact, or contaminated surfaces. While it usually affects the upper respiratory tract, it can sometimes cause infections in the lower respiratory system.

How Does Rhinovirus Spread?

Rhinovirus spreads in several ways, according to the CDC. It can be transmitted through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. The virus can also pass through direct person-to-person contact. In addition, rhinovirus can survive on surfaces such as doorknobs, phones, or other objects for several days, allowing it to spread when someone touches these contaminated surfaces.

How To Stay Safe From Rhinovirus?

As we approach the virus season, it’s important to take steps to protect your health, experts say. Dr. Steven Gordon emphasizes that prevention is better than treatment, recommending the flu shot for anyone older than six months as the most effective protection against influenza. Similarly, getting the COVID-19 vaccine remains the best way to reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalization.

“With COVID and flu vaccines available, now is an ideal time to get vaccinated, as it takes several weeks for immunity to build,” said Dr. Suruchi Sood. Both vaccines can be administered at the same time and are widely available at pharmacies. It’s advisable to check with your doctor or local pharmacy about COVID shot eligibility in your area.

Maintaining overall health through regular exercise and a nutritious diet can also help defend against respiratory viruses, while frequent handwashing remains a simple but effective preventive measure. COVID vaccination continues to be a safe and effective way to lessen the severity of illness, with recent studies in the VA Health System showing that it reduced hospitalizations, deaths, and emergency visits even in the past season, Dr. Sood added.

A recently published study has drawn attention to a new and rather unexpected side effect linked to popular weight-loss medications.

Drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, originally developed for type 2 diabetes but now widely used for weight management, have seen a sharp rise in demand. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey released in May 2024 found that roughly one in eight American adults has used a GLP-1 drug.

However, as their use becomes more widespread, doctors are identifying additional side effects, one of which may complicate the results of certain medical scans.

Ozempic And Wegovy Users Are Reporting A Growing ‘Unusual’ Side Effect

Researchers at Alliance Medical, a European imaging services company, examined PET-CT scans of cancer patients who were using GLP-1 medications. In this type of scan, a patient is given an intravenous injection of a radioactive sugar compound called fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Because diseased cells consume more of the substance than healthy ones, the PET scanner highlights these areas as “hot spots,” as described by the Cleveland Clinic.

Often, PET and CT scans are done together, the CT providing X-ray–based images that, when combined with PET data, give doctors a detailed 3D view of the body.

According to findings presented in September at the Annual Congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine, Alliance Medical researchers observed several abnormal FDG uptake patterns among patients using GLP-1 drugs. These irregularities could easily be mistaken for signs of disease if physicians are unaware of the patient’s medication use.

“We first saw an unexpected uptake pattern in one patient taking a GLP-1 agonist, which led us to conduct a broader review across our centers,” said Dr. Peter Strouhal, Medical Director at Alliance Medical, in a statement shared by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

If these scans are read incorrectly, patients could face unnecessary diagnostic procedures, inaccurate cancer staging, and potential delays in receiving the right treatment.

Other Side Effects Of Weight Loss Drugs

Many people who use GLP-1 medications experience digestive discomfort such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, or heartburn. The drugs are also known to carry risks like gallbladder disease, bone fractures, and, in some cases, pancreatitis.

Recently, however, new physical changes popularly referred to as “Ozempic vulva” and “Ozempic breasts” have begun drawing attention. Across social media, women have described noticeable changes since starting these injections, including sagging skin, vaginal dryness, weakened pelvic muscles, and occasionally an increase in discharge.

Though vaginal changes are not listed among the official side effects of GLP-1 drugs, specialists believe they may be connected to the rapid fat loss these medications cause. As body fat decreases, the natural fat pads that cushion and support vulvar tissue can diminish, leading to visible and functional changes.

“Ozempic breasts” is a term used to describe changes in breast size or shape that occur after significant weight loss from GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Many women report reduced volume, increased sagging, and, in some cases, tenderness as their body fat percentage drops.