Cat in Iowa had H1N1; may be 1st case in dogs or cats

Cat in Iowa had H1N1; may be 1st case in dogs or cats


The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine confirmed that a 13-year-old cat whose owners had experienced flu-like symptoms contracted H1N1 (swine) flu.

"This may be the first instance where we have documentation that transmission occurred involving cats or
dogs," CDC spokesman Tom Skinner told the Associated Press.


The cat's symptoms included:

• Lethargy
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of appetite

Though influenza is known to cross species, we've seen that less with this strain, though it's been confirmed in birds and ferrets. In fact, many veterinarians have been telling clients that transmission from humans to cats and dogs or vice versa is beyond unlikely. This cat changes that.

- http://content.usatoday.com/communi...-h1n1-1st-known-case-involving-dogs-or-cats/1