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H1N1 and Animals

News archive for H1N1 stories related to pets, veterinarians and other animals

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Stories about the H1N1 virus are in the news daily, and can be overwhelming. This news archive is focused on animal cases of H1N1. According to the CDC, the swine version (influenza type A H1N1) was first isolated from a pig in 1930. To date, The H1N1 cases documented in turkeys, ferrets and a cat have caught the H1N1 virus from humans, not the other way around.

For human H1N1 information please see Patient Empowerment Guide Trisha Torrey's H1N1 Swine Flu 2009 FAQ.

Stay informed, but do not panic. Common sense prevention - washing hands and isolating sick individuals is important to reduce spread.

1. December 2009 - Second Cat H1N1 Fatality, New Feline Case in France

Negative stain EM image of the 2009 H1N1 influenza Photo Credit: C. S. Goldsmith and A. Balish, CDCC. S. Goldsmith and A. Balish, CDC

Two new news stories about feline H1N1 from the AVMA were released on December 8, 2009. An 8 year-old female (spayed) cat in Oregon died from the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus on November 24, 2009 after being brought to a veterinary emergency clinic showing signs of "severe weakness and pain."

In international news, France's Director General of Health announced that a 5 year-old male (neutered) cat has tested positive for the H1N1 virus after children in the household had been ill with influenza symptoms. This cat has recovered.

2. December 2009 - 2 Cats in Colorado Confirmed with H1N1

Negative stain EM image of the 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus - C. S. Goldsmith and A. Balish, CDCC. S. Goldsmith and A. Balish, CDC
Colorado State University's (CSU)Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has reported that two cats from separate households have tested positive for the H1N1 virus. Both cats have been ill with respiratory symptoms for weeks, but are expected to recover.

3. December 2009 - Cheetah and Turkeys in US Test Positive for H1N1

Cheetah by f.svehla on Flickrby f.svehla on Flickr
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.

4. November 2009 - Third Cat with H1N1 Dies in Oregon

Transmission Electron Micrograph (TEM) of Novel H1N1 virus virions in a tissue sample by CDC/ C. GolCDC/ C. Goldsmith and D. Rollin

The AVMA sent out a bulletin today with news that a 10-year old male cat in Oregon has reportedly died from H1N1 infection. The cat was presented to a veterinarian with rapid shallow breathing, but no coughing or sneezing. The cat was seen on November 4 and died on November 7, 2009.

The other three cats in the household exhibited signs of sneezing and coughing but did not test positive for the H1N1 virus.

5. November 2009 - Second Cat Confirmed with H1N1 in Utah

H1N1 influenza virus - CDC Influenza Laboratory.CDC - public domain
A 14-year old cat in Park City, Utah has been confirmed positive for the H1N1 (swine) influenza virus. This is the second confirmed feline case of H1N1, the first feline case was confirmed in an Iowa cat on November 4th.

6. November 2009 - 3 More Ferret Cases of H1N1 Confirmed in Oregon

Princess Buttercup the Ferret by GenGlo on Flickrby GenGlo on Flickr

The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) has reported that 3 more ferrets have tested positive for the H1N1 virus. The ferrets were part of a household of 9 ferrets, and it is suspected that all may have had the virus.

New resource from the AVMA:
Frequently Asked Questions by Veterinarians about 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus
Frequently updated H1N1 FAQ from the AVMA:
Frequently Asked Questions about the 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus and Pets

7. November 2009 - H1N1 Flu Confirmed in Iowa Cat

Negative stain EM image of the 2009 H1N1 influenza Photo Credit: C. S. Goldsmith and A. Balish, CDCC. S. Goldsmith and A. Balish, CDC
It has been confirmed that a cat has caught the H1N1 virus from humans. The Iowa Department of Public Health as reported that a cat became ill with H1N1 virus after 3 members of the family became ill with influenza-like symptoms. The good news is that the cat and human family members have recovered uneventfully.

8. November 2009 - Ferret dies from H1N1 infection in Nebraska

Burt the Ferret by GenGlo on Flickr. Used with permission.by GenGlo on Flickr
A news station in Hastings, Nebraska (KHAS) has reported that Stormy the ferret, one of four ferrets in a family of humans sick with the flu, has died from the H1N1 virus. The other 3 ferrets in the house also became sick with influenza, but recovered, as did the human family members.

9. October 2009 - Ferret Tests Positive for H1N1 in Oregon

Photo: Burt the Ferret © Julianne at FURSrescueFerrets Unlimited Rescue
The first case of H1N1 infection, formerly called swine flu, in a ferret has been reported by the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA). In this case, the human family had been sick with symptoms compatible with the flu virus, so the ferret was tested at OSU and the National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Good news - according to the report, the ferret is recovering.

10. August 2009 - H1N1 Flu Jumps to Turkeys

Close-up of Turkey / Getty ImagesGetty Images
Officials in Chile reported an outbreak of H1N1 (formerly Swine) Flu in turkeys on August 20, 2009. This is the first known case of H1N1 flu in a species besides humans and pigs. It is believed that, as with swine, the turkeys were infected by a human source.

11. May 2009 - H1N1 Spread from Human TO Pigs in Canada

Negative stain EM image of the 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus - C. S. Goldsmith and A. Balish, CDCC. S. Goldsmith and A. Balish, CDC
I received a notice from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) alerting veterinarians that a swine herd in Canada has been confirmed as testing positive for the H1N1 influenza virus. It is important to note that the swine herd was infected by a human who had been in Mexico, came home sick, and later infected the herd.

12. April 2009 - Can My Dog or Cat Get H1N1 (Swine) Flu?

Oliver Tuckered Out by B. VengrowB. Vengrow

Can dogs and cats catch or spread H1N1 flu to each other or members of their human family? According to infectious disease experts, at this time the answer is most likely no. This is to say that to date there are no known dog/cat to human (or vice-versa) influenza transmissions.

Critical Update: Now that story has changed - cat confirmed with H1N1

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