Swine flu infects cats, ferrets, & dogs

[Guest guest]

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2009, page one:

 

 

" Swine flu " infects cats, ferrets, & dogs

 

A cat in Des Moines, Iowa, a cat in Lebanon, Oregon, nine

ferrets in Rice Hill, Oregon, four ferrets in Nebraska, and two

dogs in Beijing in November 2009 became the first household pets

known to have contracted the pandemic H1N1-2009 " swine flu " virus,

which is believed to have evolved in humans from swine flu strains.

Humans have passed the H1N1-2009 strain back to pigs on at least 12

different occasions in as many nations.

Each infected pet lived with humans who displayed H1N1-2009

symptoms earlier. The humans all recovered, as did the 13-year-old

Iowa cat and both Beijing dogs. The 10-year-old Oregon cat, one of

the Oregon ferrets, and one of the Nebraska ferrets died.

By early December H1N1-2009 had also been discovered among

turkeys in Canada, Chile, and Virginia, and in a captive cheetah

in California. " One almost gets the feeling that H1N1-2009 is a case

of seek and you shall find, " suggested ProMed infectious disease

moderator Tam Garland.

Added David Thomson, an animal health specialist for the

Secretariat of the Pacific Community in Papua New Guinea, " H1N1-2009

appears to be crossing rather easily to multiple species, including

both mammals and birds after apparently minimal exposure. It seems

to be capable of immediate transmission amongst at least pigs and

turkeys after apparently crossing from humans. This latter feature

may be of relatively high significance when one considers the

potential for reassortment-based viral mutations. "

The major epidemiological concern associated with H1N1 is

that while it is a relatively mild flu strain, it may mix with the

much deadlier but not easily transmitted H5N1 avian flu to produce a

strain which is both fast-spreading and deadly.

However, the mixing is most likely to occur in species that

easily transmit influenzas, such as humans, pigs, and birds--and

is relatively unlikely to occur in apparent dead-end hosts, such as

cats, ferrets, and dogs.

 

 

 

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

[ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing

original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide,

founded in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes the

decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal protection organizations.

We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year;

for free sample, send address.]