Ferrets in Halifax with probable H1N1

[Tressie]

I just received a call from Fairview Animal Hospital asking me if I knew where the testing for H1N1 in ferrets was being done.

I found the info for them, however, the alert is that 3 ferrets were being brought in who showed symptoms of H1N1 - their owners had just recovered from the virus.

The probability is high that these ferrets have H1N1.

This is from the American Veterinary Medical Association:

Symptoms
If your ferret starts to exhibit signs of a respiratory illness or lethargy, the animal should be examined by your veterinarian.

Because of the immunosuppressive effects of influenza, bacterial infection may be of concern. If discharge from the nose or eyes becomes discolored (yellow or green), or if your ferret is coughing, contact your veterinarian.

Treatment
As with people, treatment is supportive, which means treating the symptoms and letting the virus run its course.

Once a diagnosis is made, your veterinarian may be able to suggest medications to make the ferret more comfortable. You must also ensure that your ferret remains hydrated. If your ferret is very lethargic or off food and water (monitor closely), treatment with fluids and/or force feeding may be necessary.

Key Points for Pet Owners
Prevention
Standard techniques to prevent the spread of influenza are recommended. These include hand-washing and using alcohol-based hand cleaners, covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Try to avoid close contact with sick people and stay home from work or school if you are sick.

Vaccines
A human vaccine is now available. Refer to the CDC Web site for the most current official information on human cases.

There is no vaccine for domestic animals, such as ferrets, dogs, cats or birds.

Please note that at least 2 ferrets in the U.S. have died from this. The first ferret who was diagnosed with H1N1 did survive but received treatment with Tamiflu.

My colleagues and I were supposed to get the vaccine today but Capital District Health Authority has closed down its clinics for people working in healthcare and is restricting vaccines to its front-line workers, who will be visited with the vaccines.

I called my family doctor and was advised that at this time vaccines are to be given only to children under 5 years of age, aboriginal people and pregnant women.

So please take necessary precautions until we have more vaccine available. And if your ferrets appear ill don't delay taking them to your vet for prompt treatment.

Tressie

[Johnny and Demon]

OMG ! Poor ferrets

[airy]

This just makes me sick to my stomach..November 9th and 10th are the H1N1 vaccination days here, but I am still sick with worry, Just today I cleaned out my hubby's workout room just incase it should be brought into this house I would have an isolation room for them to stay in until we are all recovered, Paranoid much?? I think I am. Are ferrets the only pets that can catch it? I understand that dogs and cats have a immunity, but what about other pets like oh say..guinea pigs or gerbils?

[Tressie]

Ferrets, birds can get it and all of the swine family, i.e., pigs.

No other domestic animals have been shown to be at risk of acquiring H1N1.

Please check out my other post on strategies if your ferrets get sick from the flu - some very good suggestions from Barb Carlson.

Tressie

[Tressie]

Hi All,

I received this forwarded message from Dr. Benoit this morning - he sent it to the NS Veterinary Association:

On November 2nd, 3 ferrets presented to the Fairview Animal Hospital in Halifax with acute upper respiratory signs (coughing and sneezing), lethargy and inappetence. None of the ferrets had a fever or abnormal lung sounds. Hydration was normal since ferrets were still drinking regularly.

The owner of these ferrets tested positive for H1N1 and had been quarantined at home the last 10 days. We used a sterile micro-tip swab to collect a sample from both nostrils from one of the ferret that had noticeable nasal discharge. The sample was sent to a local research laboratory yesterday and resulted in a "strong" positive for H1N1.

These ferrets are now being treated with a suspension of Tamiflu at 2 mg/kg PO BID for 7-10 days and Healx Booster. I will let you know how they do after the treatment is complete.

Please inform your ferret clients of the potential of infection. It may not be possible to test all ferrets, but suspicious cases could be treated with Tamiflu.

Thank You

Dr. Donald Benoit

[Johnny and Demon]

Just a "stupid" question lol If we got the flu shot and we do not take walk with our ferrets until this nasty flu is over .. do they still have a chance to get the H1N1 ?

[Tressie]

Its not a stupid question at all. As long as no one else comes into direct contact with them - they should be fine.

Tressie

[Johnny and Demon]

Thanks Tressie ! You are so useful, as always ;D

[Tressie]

OREGON LOCAL NEWS

Real-Time updates and breaking news from Portland and Oregon

More ferrets in Oregon get swine flu from owners
By Lynne Terry, The Oregonian
November 10, 2009, 12:48PM

More ferrets in Oregon have developed swine flu from their owners, fueling worries that the virus could jump from the pets to people.

“We are advising vets to take care because of the possibility of animal to human transmission,” said Emilio DeBess, the state public health veterinarian.

So far, the virus has only gone one way — from owners to their ferrets.

In early October, the first case of human to ferret transmission of the H1N1 virus was documented by DeBess in the Portland area. Then at the end of last month, nine ferrets owned by a family in Roseburg came down with flulike symptoms, he said.

That was a week after two kids in the Roseburg family — a teenager and a child younger than 10 — got sick with the swine flu.

Like the kids, the ferrets developed high fevers, red eyes, runny noses and they were coughing and sneezing.

“If the ferrets could talk, they’d say ‘Oh my God, my body aches,’” DeBess said.

Tests on three of the ferrets confirmed that they had the H1N1 virus. DeBess suspects that the others had the virus as well.

Ferrets, which mimic human flu symptoms, are used in labs researching the flu. DeBess said ferrets are especially susceptible to catching pneumonia.

A pet ferret in Nebraska that caught the H1N1 virus from its family died, and a cat in Iowa has come down with the virus, said Michael San Filippo, spokesman for the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Pigs in Indiana have also contracted the virus along with swine in Canada and other countries. Two health inspectors were infected with the H1N1 virus when they visited the sick swine herd in Canada, San Filippo said.

“These are the only two cases that we know of of animals passing the virus to people,” San Filippo said. “All the other cases involve are people passing it to animals.”

Still, DeBess has warned veterinarians in the state to protect themselves from sneezing and coughing ferrets and other pets. Owners need to take precautions as well, he said.

The virus passes from humans to ferrets — or cats — the same way it is transmitted among humans. Coughing and sneezing can spread the virus which can remain infectious for about a week outside the body. That means that owners — and vets — need to thoroughly wash their hands when handling sick pets or when they are sick.

The ferrets and their owners in both the Portland area and Roseburg are fine, DeBess said.

The flu season is far from over. So far, 1,015 people have been hospitalized in Oregon with influenza-like illness and 33 people have died, the Department of Human Services said today.

The state has sent up a Web page here with the latest information about influenza in Oregon.

-- Lynne Terry