> A/H1N1 flu confirmed in U.S. cat

> www.chinaview.cn  2009-11-05 09:23:13      Print It | Email It |
> NTVNAT It

>     WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- A cat in Iowa has been infected
> with A/H1N1 flu, believed to be the first case of the pandemic strain
> in a feline in the United States, veterinary officials reported
> Wednesday.

>     The 13-year-old indoor cat was brought to the Lloyd Veterinary
> Medical Center at Iowa State University last week, where it tested
> positive for the A/H1N1 virus, the Iowa Department of Public Health
> said in a statement.

>     The case was then confirmed by both Iowa State and the U.S.
> Department of Agriculture.

>     "Two of the three members of the family that own the pet had
> suffered from influenza-like illness before the cat became ill," said
> Iowa's state health veterinarian Ann Garvey. "This is not completely
> unexpected, as other strains of influenza have been found in cats in
> the past."

>     Both the cat and its owners have since recovered.

>     People can keep their pets healthy by washing their hands,
> covering their mouths while coughing or sneezing, and keeping contact
> with their pets at a minimum while experiencing influenza-like
> symptoms, the statement said.

>     "Indoor pets that live in close proximity to someone who has been
> sick are at risk, and it is wise to monitor their health to ensure
> they aren't showing signs of illness," David Schmitt, State
> Veterinarian for Iowa, explained.

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> ---

> Officials: Swine flu confirmed in Iowa cat
> By MICHAEL J. CRUMB (AP) – 4 hours ago

> DES MOINES, Iowa — A 13-year-old Iowa cat has been infected with swine
> flu, veterinary and federal officials said Wednesday, and it is
> believed to be the first case of the H1N1 virus in a feline.

> The domestic shorthaired cat was treated last week at Iowa State
> University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ames and has recovered,
> officials said. The virus also has been confirmed in two ferrets — one
> in Oregon and the other in Nebraska — but they died.

> "We've known certainly it's possible this could happen," said Centers
> for Disease Control and Prevention spokesman Tom Skinner. "This may be
> the first instance where we have documentation that transmission
> occurred involving cats or dogs."

> The veterinarian who treated the cat, Dr. Brett Sponseller, said two
> of the three people in the cat's Iowa home had flu-like symptoms
> before the cat became ill. The case was confirmed at both Iowa State
> and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

> Other influenza strains have been known to cross species, but
> Sponseller cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from the cat
> including whether other pets could also get the swine flu.

> "It's well documented in influenza in general, but this is the first
> highly suspected case of H1N1 going from humans into a cat," he said.

> The indoor cat was lethargic, had a loss of appetite and appeared to
> have trouble breathing after it became infected, Sponseller said. Its
> owners declined to comment.

> Officials said pet owners should take the same precautions against
> spreading swine flu to pets as they would with humans.

> Getting children vaccinated for swine flu can also help prevent the
> illness from spreading to pets. There is no swine flu vaccine for
> pets.

> Dr. Ann Garvey, Iowa's state health veterinarian, said it is not yet
> known how sick cats or other pets could get from swine flu.

> "Because we haven't seen that many cases, it's difficult to give a
> blanket assessment on how sick it can make an animal," she said.

> Officials also stressed that there is no evidence that swine flu can
> be passed from pets to people.

> "But it's so early in the game we don't know how it's going to behave.
> But that doesn't appear to be the concern. There's no sense of them
> passing it on to people," said Michael San Filippo, spokesman for the
> American Veterinary Medical Association.

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