
Study: 6% of Cats Carry Giardia, but Human Transmission Risk Is Low
A large-scale study analyzing over 157,000 cat fecal samples in the US and Canada found that 6.3% of cats carry Giardia, a parasite causing 'beaver fever.' While 18% of these infected cats carry strains that can infect humans, the absolute risk of human transmission from pets is low. Male, unneutered, and older cats show higher infection rates, with Midwest regions reporting the highest prevalence. Experts debate whether routine screening is necessary, with some advocating for hygiene over testing.













