|
|
INFLUENZA PANDEMIC (H1N1) 2009, ANIMAL (20): USA (NEBRASKA) FERRET
*************************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: 1 Nov 2009
Source: About.com: veterinary medicine [edited]
<http://vetmedicine.about.com/b/2009/11/01/h1n1-swine-flu-ferret-dies-in-nebraska.htm>
A news station in Hastings, Nebraska (KHAS) has reported that
"Stormy," a ferret and one of 4 ferrets belonging to a family of
humans sick with the flu, has died from the H1N1 virus.
According to the news report, testing was done by the University of
Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, where the ferret tested positive
for H1N1. The state public health veterinarian said the event is not
unexpected but that it is rare. Only 2 ferrets in the nation have died
from H1N1, including Stormy.
A 2nd sample has been sent to a national laboratory for confirmation
of H1N1 infection [Likely that national laboratory is the National
Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa.].
Ferrets have respiratory systems similar to humans and are known to be
susceptible to human flu viruses. Infectious disease specialists do
not think dogs and cats are at risk for H1N1 infection, and there have
been no reports of dogs or cats with H1N1 infection at this writing.
Pet birds may be at risk, since the H1N1 jumped to turkeys last summer
[2009]. Caution is also advised for pet pigs.
Proper hygiene and sanitation (washing hands, bowls, tools and
clothing) and isolating sick individuals are the best defenses against
flu viruses.
It should be noted that dogs and cats have their own flu viruses,
notably the H3N8 flu virus in dogs currently in the news.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall
[Ferrets have many of the same clinical signs as humans with flu:
fever, lethargy, weakness, coughing and sneezing. Ferret owners need
to be particularly careful with coughing or sneezing in the direction
of the pet, as it may pass the flu to it.
Readers are encouraged to view the moderator's remarks in ProMED-mail
post 20091021.3618. - Mod.TG]
[Photo of pet ferret:
<http://www.seavs.com/DANYAFERRET.jpg>
- Mod.JW]
[see also:
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health (15): USA (OR) ferret
20091021.3618]
...................................................tg/msp/jw
*##########################################################*
************************************************************
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
************************************************************
Become a ProMED-mail Premium Subscriber at
<http://www.isid.org/ProMEDMail_Premium.shtml>
************************************************************
Visit ProMED-mail's web site at <http://www.promedmail.org>.
Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org
(NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your
full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send
commands to subscribe/unsubscribe, get archives, help,
etc. to: majordomo@promedmail.org. For assistance from a
human being send mail to: owner-promed@promedmail.org.
############################################################
############################################################
|