More than 300 cats have tested positive for feline panleukopenia in Miami-Dade and Broward counties during 2026, according to a report by Univision Miami released this Friday.
Veterinarians in the region report a sustained increase in cases and urge pet owners to keep vaccinations up to date.
Feline panleukopenia —also known as feline parvo— is a highly contagious disease and can be deadly. The virus causes vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and, in severe cases, the death of the animal in just 24 to 48 hours after the first symptoms appear.
"Feline panleukopenia spreads quickly. It has been very common among young kittens for a long, long time, but now we are starting to see a different strain that is also affecting adults," explained Amy Dombkowski, veterinary technician at Purrr Adoption & Sanctuary in Pembroke Park.
Deborah Pachano, from Pretty Kitty Rescue in Miami, agreed that she had never seen anything like it in her years of work with feline rescue. "I have survived many cases before, but with this particular strain, it took them very quickly," she noted.
Two structural factors exacerbate the situation in South Florida: the extreme summer heat, which supports the virus's survival in the environment, and the chronic overpopulation of stray cats in the region, which facilitates transmission among unvaccinated animals.
The virus also has an incubation period of two to seven days, which allows a cat to transmit it before showing any visible symptoms.
The virus does not infect humans, but people can carry it on their hands, clothing, or contaminated surfaces, making any contact with sick cats a potential vector for transmission.
Broward County Animal Care had to quarantine its cat rooms between eight and ten times during the season due to the rise in infections.
The outbreak of feline panleukopenia in South Florida exceeds the scope of previous episodes. In July 2025, Broward County itself temporarily suspended the admission of stray cats due to a prior outbreak of the disease.
There is no antiviral cure for feline panleukopenia. The treatment is solely supportive. Experts claim that the FVRCP vaccine is the only effective prevention tool.
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