| IMPORTANT: H1N1 Influenza Virus Confirmed in Iowa Cat
Hi Readers,
I just received a press release from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) confirming the first reported case of the H1N1 flu virus in pets and I wanted you to know about it immediately.
The AVMA just released the following information:
"A 13-year-old cat in Iowa developed signs of a respiratory infection after several people in the household were ill. Preliminary testing was positive for 2009 H1N1 on October 29, and the results were confirmed on November 2. This is the first report of a cat infected with H1N1. The cat has recovered from its illness.
To date, this is the first cat confirmed infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus."
To read the full press release - go to: H1N1 Flu Confirmed in Iowa cat
Here are some tips to help keep you and your pet healthy:
- If you are sick, see your doctor.
- If your pet is showing a problem, see your veterinarian.
- It is a good idea to wash your hands before and after handling your pets. This is just good common sense.
- Do not expose your pets to other sick pets.
- Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and toss your soiled tissues in a covered waste bin.
- Good preventative measures can help keep you and your pets healthy. That's good advice any time of year, but especially during flu season.
Until next time,
Dr. Jon
P.S. There are other zoonotic diseases (diseases that can be passed from pets to people).
To see a list of these diseases, go to:
http://www.petplace.com/cats/diseases-you-can-catch-from-your-cat/page1.aspx
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/diseases-you-can-catch-from-your-dog/page1.aspx
P.P.S. Feel free to forward this health alert to a friend. I want all of us to be safe and informed. I'll keep you updated as we learn more.
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