Microsporum canis fungal skin infections linked to stray cats in the Mediterranean raise health warnings for German vac‑

Pediatrician Dr. Vitor Gatinho warns that contact with stray cats in the Mediterranean can transmit the fungus Microsporum canis, which causes red, itchy skin eruptions—especially on children's forearms and face. The infection incubates in about ten days, is hard to treat, and may require weeks of antifungal cream or oral medication, with possible hair loss if it spreads to the scalp. Over 90 % of stray cats in the Athens area carry the fungus, prompting the German Dermatological Association to label the situation an “epidemic” and advise travelers to avoid touching street cats and to disinfect hands immediately if contact occurs.

Veterinarian Dr. Tanja Pollmüller (known as “Doc Polly”) stresses that rescuing a stray cat during a holiday is not automatically beneficial. Many animals suffer stress or health problems when moved to a new environment, and individual adoptions do not solve the broader issue of stray populations. She recommends systematic measures such as spay‑neuter programmes, vaccinations, and improved local care, and suggests adoption only for severely injured or endangered animals, preferably through registered animal‑welfare groups.