By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

Quarantine authorities are examining a cat to discover whether it was infected with the highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza that swept the country in April.

The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service said Thursday that a cat was found dead in April in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, right next to a farm where bird flu killed tens of thousands of chickens.

The research team said there is a possibility that the mammal ate or touched the sick chickens, contracted the disease and died. The result will be disclosed next week.

Previously, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention said a virus strain of avian influenza could be transmitted to mammals, but possibly not humans.

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr