The use of human pharmaceutical products against COVID-19, in cases of cats infected by feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) has been approved by the Council of Veterinary Medicinal Products. The pharmaceuticals will be made available by appointment at the District Veterinary Offices. According to an announcement by the Veterinary Services, circulated by PIO, following this decision, the Council of Ministers decided to approve a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, to allocate stocks of antiviral pharmaceuticals offered by the Ministry of Health for the treatment of cats suffering with FIP. Therefore, pharmaceuticals will be delivered to the Veterinary Services by the Ministry of Health and they will be made available by the local District Veterinary Offices by appointment arranged in advance, by calling the local numbers of the District Veterinary Offices (Famagusta 24 824555, Larnaca 24 821275, Nicosia 22805241, Limassol 25 819512 and Paphos 26 821261). As noted, pharmaceuticals will be given at the benefit of the owner/caretaker of the animal, based on a prescription issued by the private veterinarian who should state both the details of the owner/caretaker of the animal and the details of the animal, accompanied by the results of laboratory tests that will confirm that the cat suffers from FIP, a relevant medical opinion of the private veterinarian and a declaration by the owner/caretaker of the animal by which he/she confirms that the animal that he/she presented to the private veterinarian and for which the relevant veterinary prescription was issued for the supply of a number of tablets, is under the guardianship and further care of him/her and that the tablets will be used exclusively to cure the animal. The price of the medicine has been set at pound 100 per package of 40 tablets and/or pound 2.50 per tablet. It is noted that FIP is a viral disease caused by a specific strain of coronavirus that only affects cats. The infestation of cats and the development of the virus progressively leads to the animal’s death. According to Veterinary Services it appears that, for the current year, compared to 2022, there is a significant increase in the frequency of cases of cats being affected by FIP.
Source: Cyprus News Agency