The Sun News: NC shelter pauses cat adoptions amid ringworm outbreak. How to protect your pet. A ringworm virus outbreak is threatening the lives of Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement’s cat population, the shelter said Thursday.

Understanding the Context

To avoid further spread, the shelter has partially ... NC shelter pauses cat adoptions amid ringworm outbreak. How to protect your pet. NPR: Black cat adoptions are up.

Key Insights

An Oscar-winning animated movie may have helped The Oscar-winning animated movie "Flow," which stars a black kitty, may be causing an increase in black cat adoptions. Superstitions about bad luck have often caused these felines to be overlooked. Oh ... Black cat adoptions are up. An Oscar-winning animated movie may have helped Ringworm is an infection that many cat owners may be familiar with, either through experience or word of mouth.

Final Thoughts

Contrary to its misleading name, ringworm is not caused by a worm but rather by a group ... Ringworm of the body is related to athlete's foot (tinea pedis), jock itch (tinea cruris) and ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis). Ringworm often spreads by direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or animal. Mild ringworm often responds to antifungal medications applied to the skin. For more-severe infections, you may need to take antifungal pills for several weeks. Ringworm of the scalp is a contagious infection.

It's most common in toddlers and school-age children. Tinea capitis is related to athlete's foot (tinea pedis), jock itch (tinea cruris) and ringworm of the body (tinea corporis). Medication taken by mouth can kill the fungus that causes ringworm of the scalp. Medicated shampoos may help keep a person from spreading the infection to others.