Ferret gets H1N1 from ferrent

[Tressie]

Reported on U.S. News:

October 20, 2009 05:21 PM ET | Nancy Shute |

Kids aren’t the only critters getting sick with swine flu; a ferret has come down with it, too. The pet's owners took their ferret to a vet in Portland, Ore., on October 5, and the ferret’s nose mucus tested positive for genetic markers for H1N1 flu. Scientists have known for a long time that ferrets can get human flu; in fact, they use ferrets in the laboratory to test flu treatments. But ferrets are also popular pets. In this case, first reported in the Oregonian, it sounds like the ferret got the flu from its owner. And it appears to be the first reported case of H1N1 flu traveling from people to animals.

Link to rest of article:
health.usnews.com/blogs/on-parenting/2009/10/20/is-your-ferret-sneezing-p\
et-catches-h1n1-flu.html

Tressie

[Tressie]

More comprehensive article on same case:

Pets columnist »
Ferret gets swine flu from its owner, a first
By Jacques Von Lunen, special to The Oregon...
October 20, 2009, 3:47AM

It 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 flulike symptoms, tested positive for swine flu on Oct. 8.

The owners took the ferret to a veterinary clinic in Portland on Oct. 5 (DeBess said the clinic asked not to be identified.) The animal had severe respiratory illness and showed many of the symptoms people associate with the flu: fever, weakness, coughing and sneezing.

After hearing that the owner suffered from flu symptoms just before the ferret got sick, the treating veterinarian called DeBess, whose responsibilities include serving as a consultant to Oregon vets.

DeBess asked the vet to send in a sample of the ferret's nasal secretions. It was tested at an Oregon State University lab, which found genetic markers for the strain of H1N1 that's infecting humans. A lab of the U.S. Department for Agriculture confirmed the finding on Oct. 9.

This came as little surprise to DeBess. Ferrets, which are sensitive toward respiratory illness, have been used in labs to see how the flu will affect people, he said. But this may be the first case anywhere of a ferret catching the flu from its owner, without the help of lab technicians, he said.

The ferret is recovering.

DeBess put the staff at the clinic on "fever watch" after the test results came in. No one at the clinic had gotten sick as of last week, he said.

Ferret owners need to be careful during flu season. And that goes both ways. If you have a ferret that's sneezing and coughing, wash your hands a lot and definitely take it to a vet. If you are sick with flulike symptoms, handle your ferret sparingly. Don't cough or sneeze near it.

The same is true for birds, DeBess said. Birds are basically the origin of all flu viruses, historically, and they "can get any and all flu viruses," he said. However, no cases of birds contracting H1N1 are documented in this country.

In the past five years the flu virus has mutated into a strain called H3N8, which infects dogs. It's not known to transmit to humans. No known strain infects cats, and neither cats nor dogs can carry H1N1.

-- Jacques Von Lunen

[mindy]

poor ferret! it has been on the news that a turkey farm in ontario has H1N1 now too.

this is one thing that i am really worried about. since shawn and i are both teachers the chances that we will get the flu is pretty high. i am so worried that i will give it to my ferrets and there are no vets close by! i plan to wear a mask and wash my hands really well before i touch them if i do get sick.

[Johnny and Demon]

My concern about H1N1 is should we get the H1N1 vaccine or not
We are very lucky to not really get the seasonal flu; however, I'm a bit worried about our ferrets ..
Do you think its a good idea ?
Someone already got the H1N1 shot ?

[mindy]

I have decided not to get the vaccine. Not just the H1N1 vaccine, but the seasonal flu shot too. I had a very painful reaction to the seasonal vaccine last year and now I am very nervous to get any more vaccines. There are studies that say if you had the seasonal vaccine last year you are 2 times as likely to get the H1N1 flu this year. I am very nervous, I don't want to end up with either flu and if I didn't have the reaction that I did last year I would get the vaccine this year.

I am very nervous about my ferrets. I will wear a mask, gloves, and clean clothes every time I go into the ferret room if I do end up sick.

There was a scare at my husband's school this week, they thought some students had H1N1 but it turns out they don't. The Dr. is keeping them off school for a week just so they don't pick up anything else while they are sick. They got sick over the weekend and were not in school at all on Monday so hopefully there won't be too much going around from this sickness. I was at the emergency room on Monday and so many people came in coughing and they were all getting masks. I was so scared! What a time to break my toe (as if there is any good time to break a bone!) :S I stayed away from all of them as best I could.

I hope that none of you get sick!!

[Tressie]

Whether to get the H1N1 vaccination or not is obviously an individual choice.

It has already started appearing in Nova Scotia and in New Brunswick at its second round.

My rationale for getting it is that it can be deadly, which is worth the small amount of discomfort I may personally experience from the vaccine. I will significantly reduce the risk of giving it to my beloved fuzzbutts and spreading it to others.

Keep in mind that Benadryl can be taken in advance of getting the injection if one is worried about a reaction. Homeopathic Thuya at 30cc can also be taken pre and post injection.

Believe me I do know how painful and uncomfortable one's arm can get from vaccinations, I've been getting them every year since I have been working in the healthcare field (8 years). Pre-treatment does help but my arm inevitably is quite sore for at least 3 days - still better uncomfortable than dead. At my age, I am not at serious risk of dying from this nasty bug, but my ferrets certainly are.

If you are pregnant; 30 or under; have children or ferrets (dogs and cats are not at risk); or are around children regularly - I would strongly encourage you to get vaccinated.

BUT as I stated at the onset - this is a personal choice and everyone has to weigh the pros and cons for themselves.

Tressie