Animal Friends Pet Insurance | Specialist Cover for your dog or cat

Lost Password? | Register

News Categories

Home arrow AFI Pet Community arrow Pet News Section arrow US cat 'comes down with swine flu'
US cat 'comes down with swine flu' E-mail
Pet owners may soon have another reason to have health cover for their animals - the world's first furry friend has come down with swine flu.

This week, the Iowa Department of Public Health confirmed that a 13-year-old domestic moggy had contracted the H1N1 virus, Time Magazine reported.

It is believed to have caught the illness from his sick family.

Dr Julie Levy, director of Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Florida expressed surprise at the news.

"There has never been a report of human seasonal influenza affecting cats or dogs," she explained.

The doctor went on to suggest the feline's advanced age and weakened immune system could have made it more vulnerable, but other members of the veterinary community have confessed to being perplexed at the case.

State public health vet Dr Ann Garvey said for those who are worried, she recommends following the same general swine flu guidelines - avoiding too close contact, covering coughs and washing hands frequently.

Telegraph pet specialist Pete Wedderburn had previously said in his advice column that even if companion animals could catch the illness from people, it was highly unlikely that pets would be able to pass the virus on to humans.

Animal Friends Pet Insurance are specialist pet insurers who have been insuring Dogs and Cats in the UK since 1999, we are your first choice for Ethical Insurance.

Written by Kirstie
ADNFCR-1999-ID-19444561-ADNFCR
 
pet insurance quote