Fatal infection spreads among cats treated at Oases vet clinic

Cats being taken into Oases, the only veterinary hospital in Maldives, for surgeries are being diagnosed with a disease and some of the cats have died.

Some customers of Oases have been complaining on social media regarding the spreading disease. They specifically wrote about rashes that develop and worsen quickly on cat skin where fur is removed for surgeries.

A post on the 'Maldivian Cataholics' page on Facebook said:

An Oases customer and pet owner told Atoll Times on Sunday that this unknown disease is spreading from the hospital after the operation of a previously infected cat.

"Cats getting treatment from there started developing complication since they did a surgery of a cat with a bacterial infection. Precautionary measures have not been taken after that," the customer said. 

"After surgery they called to ‘check up’ on my cat unusually frequent. Later on, they admitted that there is a spreading infection."

The customer also noted that though the hospital staff were aware of the spreading infection, they had not reported this to the management. Other customers have alleged that the hospital is still trying to hide the matter even after the management was notified later on.

The hospital denied that their staff had kept the matter hidden from management.

In a written response, Oases said that seven such cases have been reported so far.

"Surgery and OPD services have now been suspended. Cats with symptoms of infection are being monitored 24 hours a day," the hospital said.

Oases also pressed that the matter is currently being investigated, and they are yet not aware of the infection’s specifics. They also said that they have sent samples abroad for further testing.