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Watch and wait and be prepared. In March of 2006, a cat in Germany died a victim of the bird flu. The cat was tested and it was confirmed that this feline died of a strain of the virus known as H5N1, a form that is deadly to humans. You should also know that the cat lived in an area where a high number of infected birds had been found. According to ABC News, Dr. James Richards, director of the Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, the virus has shown up in tigers and leopards in a Thailand zoo and the World Health Organization says that household cats in Thailand have died of the disease. Research confirms that cats can transmit the virus to other cats through respiratory secretions, feces or urine. Richards emphasizes that there is no evidence that cats are a risk to humans regarding the avian flu. There is more evidence that cats are at risk than dogs at this time. Dogs are known to be carriers of the virus but it is yet undetermined if they can develop full blown bird flu and/or transmit it to other dogs or humans. Many animals including cats and dogs can transmit viral or bacterial diseases through contact with bodily secretions or parasites including fleas. But what are the real risks in Canada and the United States? Based on the fact that in recent months, the bird flu virus has spread rapidly through Central Asia, then Europe and into Africa. The United States government says the appearance of H5N1 in the United States is inevitable. Migratory birds from Asia are expected to move through Alaska, into Canada and then in to the West Coast of the United States first. It is about now that these birds are arriving in Alaska and expected to arrive on the west coast this summer. The U.S. government is carefully monitoring this situation and expects to collect between 75,000 and 100,000 samples for testing in Alaska and the West Coast. Some professionals suggest that this virus is more apt to come into the United States via humans or transported infected birds. What can and should you do to protect your pets? First, keep your eyes and ears on the news for reports of infected birds starting now. It is just prudent to keep your pet birds inside as we move into summer. If you live within three miles of a bird flu outbreak in wild birds, zoo birds or animals or any appearance of this deadly virus, keep your household pets inside. After all, you are responsible for the health and safety of any pet you have regardless of species. If your pet spends a lot of time outside, now’s the time to prepare accommodations inside for the life of your animal. You should also be aware of the symptoms of this disease in order to minimize the spread of it. Nicole Baumgarth, associate professor of immunology at the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine at Davis says that the disease may show up as a gastrointestinal illness or a respiratory illness. Cats may exhibit diarrhea, vomited and a fever as well as looking ill and losing coat luster. Ill cats also tend to withdraw and hide. “Sniffer dogs” are being used at the Manchester Airport in the United Kingdom as well as airports at Heathrow and Gatwick to help keep bird flu out of Britain. Dogs are checking flights from countries with avian flu outbreaks searching for banned meats, live or dead birds, feathers and eggs. The avian flu impact in the U.S. is expected to be less than it is in less developed countries. Even so, awareness is your best defense and certainly prudent for all pet owners. For additional information, visit the CDC web site. There is an interesting on SF Gate web site. |
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