The First Documented H1N1 Virus Case In A Cat
A male cat in Iowa is said to be the first one in the state diagnosed as having the H1N1 virus, sparking fears that pets may spread the swine flu or that scared owners of pets may desert their cats in droves. Dr Richard Besser debates the first documented case of H1N1 in a cat.
The–year-old, mixed-breed cat showed the indicators of listlessness, sneezing and coughing typical to sick cats. He was brought last week to Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State College’s College of Veterinary Drugs , where it was confirmed he had the H1N1 pathogen.
Vets declined to release his identity and wouldn’t reveal the coat color or any other identifying traits to guard client-veterinarian privacy.
One vet who treated the cat, Brett Sponseller, related two people in the cat’s Iowa home had flu-like symptoms before he fell sick. Officials at the Iowa Dept of Public Health released the nameless cat’s diagnosis Wednesday. “The cat has been on treatment now for roughly 7 days,” he claimed. “I believe the diagnosis on this cat for a complete recovery is excellent.”
Given the news, some vets are concerned about the contentment of other cats across the land : whether the cats contract the H1N1 pathogen.
“This may be a thing that just fizzles out but it also has the capability for giant impact,” recounted Tony Johnson, a clinical aid teacher at the Purdue University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine . “We have these small fuzzy things living in our home that might be vectors for nasty diseases.” Johnson isn’t so worried that cats will spread influenza to humans : “Most influenza viruses aren’t going to kill you,” he announced.
Johnson isn’t so concerned that cats will spread influenza to humans : “Most influenza viruses aren’t going to kill you,” he claimed. Rather, he concerns cat owners might desert their animals at the first sign of a sniffle.
Vets have long heard of influenza jumping from animals to humans, and some cases of pets to humans. But it is unusual for an influenza pathogen to leap from human to cat.
Braniff Watson has written a number of articles on the topic of the H1N1 virus. To obtain more information on the H1N1 virus, visit the website.
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