Officials: Swine flu confirmed in Iowa cat

[Valkyrie]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091104/...wine_flu_cat_1

DES MOINES, Iowa – The swine flu virus has been confirmed in a cat treated at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Officials said Wednesday it's the first known case of the virus to be diagnosed in a cat. Veterinarians say the virus has also been confirmed in two ferrets, one in Oregon and the other in Nebraska.

The 13-year-old cat was treated in Ames, Iowa, and is recovering.

The veterinarian who treated the cat, Dr. Brett Sponseller, says two of the three people in the same house had flu-like symptoms before the cat became ill.

The case was confirmed at both Iowa State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Sponseller says the flu is known to spread from humans to pets, but this is the first case of swine flu to spread to a cat.

[csmithwick_819]

That is crazy!

[aliciamarie]

Interesting..

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by Valkyrie http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091104/...wine_flu_cat_1 DES MOINES, Iowa – The swine flu virus has been confirmed in a cat treated at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Officials said Wednesday it's the first known case of the virus to be diagnosed in a cat. Veterinarians say the virus has also been confirmed in two ferrets, one in Oregon and the other in Nebraska. The 13-year-old cat was treated in Ames, Iowa, and is recovering. The veterinarian who treated the cat, Dr. Brett Sponseller, says two of the three people in the same house had flu-like symptoms before the cat became ill. The case was confirmed at both Iowa State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Sponseller says the flu is known to spread from humans to pets, but this is the first case of swine flu to spread to a cat.

AW FLIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will a vaccine be developed for pets now?!?!?

[csmithwick_819]

Originally Posted by Victoria AW FLIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will a vaccine be developed for pets now?!?!?

I was wondering the same thing

[Dez]

That's not good...I hope the cat is an only indoor cat...if not then all it's little outdoor kitteh friends are in contact with it and are possibly bringing it to their homes.

I am glad the cat recovered.

[FuzzyToaster]

OH NO!!! i am keeping my critters far away from sick people! my cats are my babies! and we can't afford for them to get sick right now.