Avian Influenza In Cats And Other Mammals, British Veterinary Association

[Snowy Owl]

Avian Influenza In Cats And Other Mammals, British Veterinary Association

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has issued a Policy Brief. Below is a summary of the brief. At the end of this article you can find a link to the full brief.

-- Avian Influenza Can Infect Mammal Species, Including:
humans, rats and mice, stoats, weasels and ferrets, pigs, cats and dogs

-- Non-avian species do not act as reservoirs for H5N1.

-- As influenza viruses are unstable and unpredictable, it is important to track the evolution of H5N1 in mammal species for signs of change.

-- Pet cats can become infected if they eat sick birds. Anecdotal reports of infected domestic and wild cats have been reported in South East Asia.

-- Tigers and leopards have become infected after eating infected meat in some zoos.

-- Even though H5N1 is not shed in the same quantities from cat species as it is from birds, the risk to humans (from cats) is considered as low. Cat-to-cat transmission does appear to take place - even between domestic and non-domestic cats species.

-- A human pandemic will not necessarily result in avian flu outbreaks in non-human mammals. Outbreaks in birds have resulted in very small numbers of non-human (reported) mammal infections.

-- It is important to continue being vigilant. Veterinary surgeons should report suspected and confirmed cases to national authorities.

-- Pet owners should be made aware that the risk to their mammals of H5N1 infection is very low. The risk of a pet infecting a human is even lower. Owners should keep the risk in perspective.

-- Pet owners who live within three kilometres of an outbreak should keep their cats indoors and only walk their dogs on a lead (not let them run loose). Pets should not feed on dead wild birds.

-- If a vet has a susceptible mammal brought into his/her practice with a respiratory complaint, H5N1 will have to be included in the list of possible causes of the clinical signs.

-- Pet owners must not abandon their pets because of fear of infection (to the pet owner).

Click Here to See the Policy Brief in Full (pdf)


Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=41232

 

[Mellie]

Re: Avian Influenza In Cats And Other Mammals, British Veterinary Association

From the post above

Let me preface this by saying I'm glad the Brits are laying out guidelines and providing info. I feel there's way more information that could be shared, but they have to remember their audience. I think the main message is to not abandon your animals...

-- Non-avian species do not act as reservoirs for H5N1.

In other words, transmission right now is bird to mammal, not mammal to mammal. Perhaps this also suggests there are no asymptomatic mammals that travel great distances as do the Anseriforms and Charadraforms (ducks, ocean-going birds).

-- Pet cats can become infected if they eat sick birds. Anecdotal reports of infected domestic and wild cats have been reported in South East Asia.

The SE Asia reports from some of the game reserves that hundreds of large cats dyed looked more than "anecdotal" to me... Oh wait, the sequences weren't "blessed" by Weybridge!

-- Even though H5N1 is not shed in the same quantities from cat species as it is from birds, the risk to humans (from cats) is considered as low. Cat-to-cat transmission does appear to take place - even between domestic and non-domestic cats species.

Yeah, healthy cats put in the same living space in the lab with cats having H5N1 got it too. They ALL died. It is probably a matter of viral load and in-efficient transmission, but as we've seen with this virus, changes happen.

-- Pet owners must not abandon their pets because of fear of infection (to the pet owner).

I agree, no abandoning.