Avian flu can spread between humans and cats, CDC discovers

Meet the experts: Thomas Russo, MD, Professor and Chief of Infectious Diseases at Buffalo University in New York; William Shaffner, Maryland, He is an infectious disease expert and professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Bruce Kornreich, DVM, Ph.D. , Director of Cornell Cat Health Center, the veterinary medical school at Cornell University.

This study raises many questions about whether avian flu can be transmitted to pets and how this may occur. This is what we know, plus infectious disease experts and veterinarians want you to keep in mind.

How is bird flu passed from humans to cats?

Again, these farm workers refused to be tested for the avian flu, so they cannot say they gave their pets the virus. However, there are some theories about how a cat gets sick if he actually gets the bird flu from his owner.

“It's possible that a dairy worker came home with the virus in his hand and his pet cat licked his hand,” he says. William Shaffner, Maryland, He is an infectious disease expert and professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

The virus can also spread from contaminated work clothes. They also say that cats may get it after they drink unpasteurized milk that their owners have brought back from work. Thomas Russo, MD, Professor and Chief of Infectious Diseases at Buffalo University in New York.

There is no conclusive evidence that cats have obtained avian flu from their owners, but they say “there is a possibility of transmission.” Bruce Kornreich, DVM, Ph.D. , director of Cornell Cat Health Center, the Cornell University's Veterinary Medicine School.

How does avian flu usually spread?

Infected birds can remove avian flu with saliva, nasal secretion, and poop. CDC. This virus can infect others through contaminated surfaces per tissue.

However, avian influenza has also been detected in unpasteurized milk. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Eating uncooked or undercooked poultry and beef can also lead to infection CDC.

Cat bird flu signs

Cats can develop some symptoms of avian flu and they tend to get worse over time American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). They include:

• Loss of appetite
• Lethargic
• heat
• Neurological symptoms such as turning, trembling, seizures, and blindness
• Large amounts of excretion from the nose and eyes
• Severe depression
• Rapid breathing, difficulty breathing
• sneeze
• cough

“Cats can really get sick, and most often develop life-threatening diseases,” says Kornreich.

How do humans usually take the avian flu?

So far, there have been 70 bird flu cases among humans detected in the US, with one death. CDC data. The majority of cases are in people exposed to infected dairy products or poultry, but there are at least three cases where the source of exposure is unknown.

Human infectious diseases caused by avian influenza can occur when the virus enters a person's eyes, nose, or mouth. CDC.

Human bird flu signs

Humans' symptoms of avian flu ranged from mild to severe. CDCand may include:

• Redness of the eyes
• Mild flu-like upper respiratory tract symptoms
• pneumonia
• Fever or enthusiasm
• cough
• sore throat
• Runny nose or suffocating nose
• Muscle or body pain
• headache
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• Crucifixion

How should people worry about this?

Dr. Schaffner says he is increasingly hearing questions about pets having avian flu. He says outdoor cats are the biggest concern given that outdoor cats can move their mouths and play with dead birds and even catch infected birds, but dogs can also get infected. There is a “possibility” that is sexual.

Dr. Russo says getting avian flu from a pet is “biologically plausible,” but he points out that this is unlikely if you have an indoor pet.

If your pet is worried about contracting the avian flu, Dr. Schaffner will do his best to stay indoors or away from dead or sick animals by paying attention to them when they are outside. I suggest that. It's also important not to supply pet raw food or unpasteurized milk, says Kornreich.

Dr. Schaffner also recommends being cautious when interacting with birds to protect you and your pet. “If you want to fill a bird feeder or change water in a bird bath, wear surgical gloves and then wash your hands thoroughly,” he says.

However, if you have a cat and they develop symptoms of avian flu, Kornreich says it's important to isolate your cat from other people and pets. “I wash my hands thoroughly before and after interacting with the cat, and then I try to change clothes,” he says.

Kornreich also recommends calling your pet vet, but will not take your cat right away. “It's important that your vet first takes appropriate precautions to protect yourself and other patients,” he says.

Regarding the risk of getting sick from your pet, Dr. Russo says this is unlikely to be a major problem for most Americans. “I won't rule that out, but at this point, the risk seems close to zero,” he says.

Overall, Kornreich recommends that pet owners do their best to provide information about bird flu and the latest information on pets. “It's really important not to panic,” he says.