Rense.com - Patricial Doyle, PhD | Ferret Dies of H1N1 Swine Flu in Nebraska - virus is widening its host range

Ferret Dies of H1N1 Swine Flu in Nebraska,
From Patricia Doyle, PhD
11-2-9

Hello Jeff - I think we are on the brink of a very different outbreak. The virus is widening its host range, and is transmitting a tamiflu resistant strain H2H in the US.

Patty

http://vetmedicine.about.com/b/2009/11/01/h1n1-swine-flu-ferret-dies-in-nebraska.htm

VetMedicineAbout.com | H1N1 (Swine Flu) News - Ferret dies from H1N1 infection in Nebraska

Sunday November 1, 2009

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.

According to the news report:

Testing was done by the University of Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Lab where the ferret tested positive for H1N1. The state public health veterinarian said it is not unexpected, but it is rare. Only 2 ferrets in the nation have died from H1N1. That includes Stormy.

A second sample has been sent to a national laboratory for confirmation of H1N1 infection.

Ferrets have respiratory systems similar to humans and are known to be susceptible to human flu viruses. Infectious disease specialists do not think dogs and cats are at risk for H1N1 infection and there have been no reports of dogs or cats with H1N1 infection at this writing. Pet birds may be at risk, since the H1N1 jumped to turkeys last summer. Caution is also advised for pet pigs.

Proper hygiene and sanitation (wash hands, bowls, tools and clothing) and isolating sick individuals are your best defense against the flu viruses.

It should be noted that dogs and cats have their own flu viruses, notably the H3N8 flu virus in dogs currently in the news.

Patricia A. Doyle DVM, PhD Bus Admin, Tropical Agricultural Economics Univ of West Indies Please visit my "Emerging Diseases" message board at: http://www.emergingdisease.org/phpbb/index.php Also my new website: http://drpdoyle.tripod.com/ Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
Go with God and in Good Health

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