The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) are reporting that a cheetah in a California zoo and a flock of turkeys in Virginia have tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. (See USDA confirmed cases PDF.)
Cheetah in California
Confirmatory tests are pending for the cheetah case. This is the first case reported in a cheetah, but not the first feline case, as reported earlier.
Turkey Flock in Virginia
The USDA has confirmed the H1N1 virus finding in the Virginia turkeys. A worker sick with flu-like symptoms is thought to be the source of the infection in this flock. This the first case in the United States, but not in the world. The H1N1 virus was confirmed in turkeys in Chile in August 2009.
Dogs and H1N1
There has been a couple news reports of 2 positive canine cases of H1N1 in China, but the reports have been sparse and the AVMA has been unable to confirm the reports or find additional information at this time.
The message is the same
While it is distressing to hear of new species infected with the H1N1 virus, the message to not panic remains. The animal infections are thought to have occurred from virus transmission from humans TO animals, not the other way around.
Good personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, covering coughs, isolating sick individuals and seeing the doctor when sick are your best defenses against influenza viruses.
Related News and Resources
- H1N1 and Animals - news timeline
- Frequently Asked Questions by Veterinarians about 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus
- Frequently Asked Questions about the 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus and Pets
Photo: Cheetah by Ferdinand Svehla on Flickr
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