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<h1 style='line-height:15.0pt'><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:Arial'>From channel 11<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h1>
<h1 style='line-height:15.0pt'><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Posted by <st1:PersonName w:st="on"><st2:GivenName
w:st="on">Christine</st2:GivenName> <st2:Sn w:st="on">Gray</st2:Sn></st1:PersonName>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h1>
<h1 style='line-height:15.0pt'><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></h1>
<h1 style='line-height:15.0pt'><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Deadly Virus Killing Cats At <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Animal</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Control</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h1>
<h2 style='line-height:15.0pt'><b><i><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic'>Officials: 19
Cats, Kittens Die In Two Weeks</span></font></i></b><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></h2>
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13.5pt'><st1:City w:st="on"><b><font size=3 face=Times><span style='font-size:
11.5pt;font-family:Times;font-weight:bold'>FREDERICK</span></font></b></st1:City><b><font
size=3 face=Times><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Times;font-weight:
bold'>, <st1:State w:st="on">Md.</st1:State> -- </span></font></b><font size=3
face=Times><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Times'>A deadly virus has
been killing cats at the animal control center in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Frederick</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>,
officials said. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=container1table1 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
13.5pt'><font size=3 face=Times><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Times'>Over
the past two weeks, 19 cats and kittens have died or been euthanized at the
animal control center because they contracted panleukopenia, more commonly
known as <a href="http://www.fda.gov/cvm/con2.htm" target="_blank">feline
distemper</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=container1table1 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
13.5pt'><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><st2:GivenName w:st="on"><font size=3
face=Times><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Times'>Harold</span></font></st2:GivenName><font
size=3 face=Times><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Times'> <st2:Sn
w:st="on">Domer</st2:Sn></span></font></st1:PersonName><font size=3
face=Times><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Times'>, director of the
animal control division, told The Frederick News-Post that the problem appears
to be in the center's triage area, a separate room where cats without proof of
current vaccinations are kept for two weeks to make sure they don't have a
contagious disease like panleukopenia. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=container1table1 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
13.5pt'><font size=3 face=Times><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Times'>"It's
hard to come to work each morning and have to get updates on how many cats died
overnight," <st1:PersonName w:st="on"><st2:title w:st="on">Mr.</st2:title>
<st2:Sn w:st="on">Domer</st2:Sn></st1:PersonName> said. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=container1table1 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
13.5pt'><font size=3 face=Times><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Times'>The
animal control center has introduced additional precautions to eliminate the
spread of the virus. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=container1table1 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
13.5pt'><font size=3 face=Times><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Times'>Anyone
entering the triage area must step in a bleach solution to kill any virus that
might be on the floor. When an animal leaves a cage in the triage area, the
cage is taken outside and disinfected. As each set of cages is given a daily
cleaning, a new bucket of bleach solution is used to clean it. The floors in
the triage area are cleaned last so nothing can be taken out of the room during
the cleaning. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=container1table1 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
13.5pt'><font size=3 face=Times><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Times'>Given
all the center's precautions, Domer is unsure how the virus continues to spread
or what more can be done. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=container1table1 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
13.5pt'><font size=3 face=Times><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Times'>Domer
encourages all cat owners to make sure their pets have up-to-date vaccinations.
Indoor cats are less likely to get the virus. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=container1table1 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
13.5pt'><font size=3 face=Times><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Times'>The
center had a similar ou<st1:PersonName w:st="on">tbr</st1:PersonName>eak for
two months during the summer of 2003 that came on suddenly and stopped just as
abruptly. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=container1table1 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
13.5pt'><font size=3 face=Times><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Times'>Other
veterinary centers in the county have not seen any increases in panleukopenia
come through their doors.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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