Fox 28: South Bend, Elkhart IN News, Weather, SportsH1N1 spreads to common household pets
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The deadly H1N1 virus is spreading to man's best friend. Cats and ferrets are coming down with the flu. Veterinarians say this virus, unlike other strains of influenza, is spreading from humans to animals. Vets say pet owners shouldn't panic.
Crowded emergency rooms and long lines at vaccine clinics show the growing concern over the H1N1 virus. And now pets are at risk.
"Pets are part of the family too like brothers and sisters and little kids," said pet owner Holly Meyers
And just like a relative, you can give the H1N1 virus to your furry friend.
"I didn't even realize pets could get it. I didn't realize they could get the flu," said pet owner Cheryl Rider.
Some pigs, two ferrets and one cat have all been diagnosed with the flu after veterinarians say they caught it from their owners.
"The moving from dogs to cats...is certainly unusual for the influenza virus," said Veterinarian Dr. Rick Nelson.
Veterinarian Dr. Rick Nelson says that dogs are susceptible to their own strains of the influenza and there have not been any reported cases of dogs contracting the H1N1. Ferrets are most likely to get the H1N1, while cats are the least likely pet to contract any flu strain.
"The virus can travel on anything...just carriers of the virus," Dr. Nelson.
Dr. Nelson says while you can transmit the flu to your pet, a human cannot get the virus from an animal. But pets will have human-like flu symptoms.
"High fever, coughing some sort of respiratory infection," said Dr. Nelson.
Dr. Nelson says you shouldn't go to any extremes to protect your pets from the H1N1 virus because the contraction of the virus for animals is not widespread. Again, there have not yet been any reports of dogs coming down with H1N1 in the U-S. But Dr. Nelson wants dog owners to know the vaccination dogs get to guard against the typical canine flu will not protect them against the H1N1 virus.
Reporter: Nadia Crow
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