Ringworm outbreak puts animal shelter on high alert

**Updated on Jan. 26 at 10:15 a.m.

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — In a report from the Twin Falls Animal Shelter, the facility is concerned of a ringworm outbreak that started around two months ago and is affecting the entire intake area.

The outbreak was caused by an infected stray, quickly infecting 20 other cats in the shelter, according to the animal shelter.

To help prevent euthanasia, the animal shelter is working with Best Friends and Mountain Humane to have a construction trailer in the parking lot for intake of healthy cats.

“They all went to the Best Friend’s Sanctuary over in Utah. They have taken all of our positive ringworm cats, but it does take up to 14 days, that incubation period, to have new spots appear,” said Rebecca Sheffield, the office manager for People For Pets.

Ringworm is a contagious fungal infection that affects a pet’s skin, hair and nails. Executive Director of the shelter Debra Blackwood is encouraging all those who adopted or fostered a cat from to check their cats hair for any signs of infection.

“We have been unable to isolate it due to the high volume of cat intakes, mainly strays,” said Debra Blackwood, executive director at Twin Falls Animal Shelter. “As a result, our shelter needs to halt all cat intakes as much as possible for at least 3 to 4 weeks. This will start immediately to monitor the current population for any new outbreaks and to keep any new cats from getting in contact with any ringworm currently in our building.”

The shelter is also asking for help around the community to find the owners as best as possible before bringing them to the shelter.

“Ultimately any new cats brought into the shelter are at high risk for euthanasia. If we have any cats break with ringworm, we are unable to house them and treat them at this moment,” Blackwood said.

The shelter will be shut down for a deep clean, but no date has been scheduled at the moment.

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