Our cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes and can be susceptible for other diseases as he may now be considered at physical risk , I wondered if he is at risk to catch H1N1 or be a carrier, which seems to be all peaking all around us. Please note that I am a concerned person about the risks to our family and our pets and am not a doctor, vet or specialist on H1N1, but am gathering facts about it like everyone else. If there is something you can add or have conflicting information, please let me know so I can make adjustments to the article. I will reference where I found the information.
Some background summary: According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
– Influenza A viruses are found in many different animals, including ducks, chickens, pigs, whales, horses and seals.
– Influenza B viruses circulate widely only among humans.
— wild birds are the primary natural reservoir for all subtypes of influenza A viruses and are thought to be the source of influenza A viruses in all other animals.
– While it is unusual for people to get influenza infections directly from animals, sporadic human infections and outbreaks caused by certain avian influenza A viruses have been reported.
– Influenza A (H1N1) virus is a subtype of influenza virus A and the most common cause of influenza (flu) in humans. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a large fraction of all seasonal influenza. H1N1 strains caused roughly half of all human flu infections in 2006. Other strains of H1N1 are endemic in pigs (swine influenza) and in birds (avian influenza).
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Can animals catch or spread H1N1 flu to each other or members of their human family? Most likely, the answer is no. This is to say that to date there are no known dog/cat to human (or vice-versa) influenza transmissions. However, unlike dogs and cats, pigs and ferrets do share biological similarities with humans, and are generally susceptible to human influenza viruses (including influenza A viruses, a group of which the "swine flu" virus H1N1 is a member).
Two separate groups have been using ferrets to investigate how harmful A(H1N1) influenza virus is and how easily it is transmitted. On October 20, 2009, a ferret got swine [H1N1] flu from its owner and it now appears that certain pets can catch swine flu from their owners. Oregon just registered its first case of a natural human-animal transmission of the H1N1 virus. Actually, it may be the first such recorded case anywhere, said Emilio DeBess, Oregon state public health veterinarian. A ferret, whose owner had shown flu-like symptoms, tested positive for swine flu on Oct. 8. http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index.ssf/2009/10/ferret_gets_swine_flu_from_its.html.
What about our dogs and cats? Can they catch or spread H1N1 (Swine) flu to each other or members of their human family? Most likely, the answer is no. I repeat: to date there are no known dog/cat to human (or vice-versa) influenza transmissions. This is good news for now, but experts are not certain that dogs will remain exempt. There is no cause for panic, but it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your dog. Report any signs of illness to your vet and seek prompt treatment if needed. http://www.aspca.org/pressroom/press-releases/042909-2.html
Dogs and cats do have their own versions of influenza viruses. The canine influenza virus is an influenza Type A H3N8 virus, and the feline version is Type A H5N1 influenza virus. (The numbers and letters after the type denote the numbers and types of proteins on the surface of the virus. The letter H stands for hemagglutinin and the letter N stands for neuraminidase.2)
To date, there is no evidence that domestic cats have a role in the natural transmission cycle of H5N1 viruses" and "the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has issued preliminary recommendations for cat owners living in H5N1-affected areas. These include keeping domestic cats indoors to prevent exposure to potentially infected birds and avoiding contact with semi-domestic and feral cats living outside the home."
Who is spreading what virus? It is interesting to note that birds play an important role in the spread of all influenza A viruses. From the CDC: "Wild birds are the primary natural reservoir for all subtypes of influenza A viruses and are thought to be the source of influenza A viruses in all other animals."
Over the last 10 years, highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza A has spread from Southeast Asia into Europe and Africa killing millions of chickens and ducks along the way. It has also infected tigers, cats, dogs and humans often resulting in death. Despite the countless cases reported in birds, the number of human cases remains few and of those few more than 90% occurred in genetically related family members indicating a possible genetic correlation.
http://vetmedicine.about.com/b/2009/05/01/h1n1-swine-flu-pet-pigs-ferrets-and-more.htm; ASPCA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
