H1N1 Flu Confirmed in Wisconsin Cat

[Ronan Kelly]

H1N1 Flu Confirmed in Wisconsin Cat

First confirmed case since January 2010

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Laboratory tests today confirmed that a 6-year-old cat in Wisconsin contracted the H1N1 influenza virus, the first confirmed case of H1N1 in a U.S. pet since January 2010.

A second cat in the household tested negative after it also developed severe respiratory disease, although it is now presumed that it too had the virus. Both cats were euthanized after failing to respond to treatment.

The owner of the cats had been ill with flu-like symptoms prior to the cats' illness and is believed to be the source of the infection.

In addition to humans and cats, this strain of H1N1 influenza virus has also been found in pigs, birds, ferrets and a dog. There have been no confirmed cases of pets passing the virus back to people.
....


SOURCE American Veterinary Medical Association

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: H1N1 Flu Confirmed in Wisconsin Cat

<TABLE id=apex_layout_271110100662109808 class=formlayout border=0 summary=""><TBODY><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Archive Number</TD><TD noWrap align=left>20110215.0500</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Published Date</TD><TD noWrap align=left>15-FEB-2011</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Subject</TD><TD noWrap align=left>PRO/AH/EDR> Influenza A (H1N1) 2009, animal (02): USA (WI) feline</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

INFLUENZA A (H1N1) 2009, ANIMAL (02): USA (WISCONSIN) FELINE
************************************************************
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: Mon 14 Feb 2011
Source: American Veterinary Medical Association [edited]
<http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/new_virus/default.asp>


IDEXX Laboratories announced today [14 Feb 2011] that infection with
the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus was confirmed in a 6-year-old cat in
Wisconsin. The cat's owner had recently been ill with flu-like
symptoms prior to the cat's illness. The cat developed severe
respiratory illness; despite aggressive treatment, the cat
deteriorated and was euthanized. A 2nd cat in the household also
developed severe respiratory disease and was euthanized due to failure
to respond to treatment; although samples from that cat were negative
for the virus, 2009 H1N1 influenza remains the presumptive cause of
illness and death in the 2nd cat. For more information read the IDEXX
industry alert at
<http://idexx.com/view/xhtml/en_us/corporate/alerts/2011-h1n1-alert.jsf?SSOTOKEN=0>.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Until now, the last confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza infection in a pet
was reported in January 2010. These new cases serve as a reminder that
the virus is still circulating in the population and is still capable
of infecting people and pets.

The AVMA has updated their 2009 H1N1 resources, all of which are
available on the AVMA website.
- 2009 H1N1 influenza resources
<http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/new_virus/default.asp?utm_source=content&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-animal-health-alerts>
- FAQs by veterinarians about 2009 H1N1 influenza
<http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/new_virus/new_flu_virus_faq_veterinarians.asp>
- FAQs by pet owners about 2009 H1N1 influenza
<http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/new_virus/new_flu_virus_faq_pet_owners.asp>

The most important messages for clients at this time are not to panic
and to have any ill pets examined by a veterinarian, especially if
someone in the household has recently been ill with flu-like symptoms.
To date, all of the infected pets were infected by ill people, and
there is no evidence that ill pets have transmitted the virus to
people or other animals. Emphasize the importance of proper hygiene
and sanitation to prevent spread of the virus. Based on the currently
available information, ferret and cat owners should be especially
cautious. - Mod.TG

The state of in Wisconsin can be located on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail
interactive map at <http://healthmap.org/r/00Pq>. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]

[see also:
2009
----
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (37): USA (OR, CA) feline
20091211.4213
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (28): USA (UT, OR) feline
20091121.4008
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (21): USA (IA) feline
20091105.3816
2007
----
Avian influenza (17): Indonesia (feline), Japan, Hungary
20070126.0347
2006
----
Avian influenza (202) - Indonesia: porcine, feline 20061008.2890]

...
http://www.promedmail.org/pls/apex/..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,87092

 

[tetano]

Re: H1N1 Flu Confirmed in Wisconsin Cat

Two confirmed cases of H1N1 discovered in domesticated cats


The first confirmed case of H1N1 in an animal since January of 2009 was recently found in two domesticated cats. Strangely, the owners were also experiencing flu-like symptoms at the time of the cat?s diagnoses.

On its website, The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), states, ?The symptoms in people are very similar to human respiratory flu, and may also cause gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea and vomiting. In severe cases, pneumonia can occur. To date, most animals infected with H1N1 became infected after their owners had been ill with flu-like symptoms, and have shown mild respiratory illness or no illness at all. With few exceptions, most animals have fully recovered.?

The felines, a 6 year old male and a 10 year old female, did originally respond well to treatment, but sadly both did not recover fully and had to be euthanized.

There was some debate as to whether or not the female cat had H1N1, because the test results later came back negative. Though it is now believed that she did, in fact, suffer the illness.

According to Idexx, "The shedding period of influenza viruses is short, which may have been responsible for the negative PCR result."

For this reason, if pets are experiencing any symptoms of a respiratory illness, a visit to the vet as soon as possible is in their best interest.

http://www.thisdishisvegetarian.com/2011/02/1352two-confirmed-cases-of-h1n1.html