BREAKING NEWS: TSC Humane Shelter halts cat intake, adoptions due to Feline Panleukopenia virus outbreak

The Toccoa Stephens County Humane Shelter has closed cat intakes and cat adoptions due to the outbreak of the highly contagious and deadly, Feline Panleukopenia virus.

According to Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter Executive Director Jeff Roberts, to date, 10 cats/kittens have died or tested positive for the virus and were euthanized.

He says they currently have 34 cats/kittens at the shelter that have been quarantined because they were in the same room as the 10 cats/kittens that tested positive for the virus.

The shelter is currently under a 14-day quarantine for cats/kittens.

This quarantine will remain in place until the shelter has 14 days without any further positive tests/loss of life from this virus.

Once the shelter has gone 14 days without a new case the shelter will reopen to cat/kitten intakes and cat/kitten adoptions.

Roberts adds that this virus is similar to the Canine Parvovirus.