Cats and Ferrets Can Contract Swine Flu Too
Swine flu patients should not pet their cats.
Image: YLE
Humans aren’t the only ones susceptible to swine flu. Cats, poultry and pigs can also catch the disease. Dogs, however, seem to be immune so far.
The Finnish Food Safety Authority (Evira) says animal owners should contact a veterinarian if they suspect an animal may have caught the bug. Evira has already examined a few virus samples taken from cats and pigs, but so far, no samples have tested positive for swine flu.
Evira has drawn up guidelines on how to protect pigs and poultry from the bug. The organisation is also calling on veterinarians to send in virus samples if an animal is suspected to have fallen ill with the flu.
”There have been cases of humans getting sick after contact with pigs in Norway and Ireland. Poultry have better protection, but turkeys have contracted the disease in Canada and Chile,” says Liisa Kaartinen, the head of the Veterinary Virology Research Unit at Evira.
Swine flu not just for birds
Cats and ferrets seem to be more susceptible to swine flu than other pets. Dogs, horses and cattle are not prone to catching the disease.
“For some reason, ferrets are very susceptible to diseases, and many times the illness is life-threatening,” says Kaartinen.
So far, there have been no reported cases of cats catching swine flu in Finland, but there have been cases in the United States.
”The symptoms are generally mild -- mainly a cough. Generally cats recover.”
Pets should be protected from the disease like other family members.
“Contact should be limited. Hand disinfectant should be used regularly,” says Kaartinen.
If an animal has troubles breathing, owners should contact a veterinarian.
YLE