Dog flu in Chicago
The Chicago Tribune is reporting canine influenza in dogs in the Chicago area. These are the first reported cases oin Illinois. Canine influenza has now been reported in 27 American states. It has also been previously identified in the UK.
Here are some canine flu facts:
- Canine influenza originated from an equine influenza virus.
Canine influenza can cause a wide range of clinical signs, ranging from mild illness (cough, fever, decreased appetite and activity) to very severe (and potentially fatal) pneumonia. - Dogs that have frequent contact with other dogs (e.g. in kennels or parks) or dogs in shelters are at higher risk of catching the virus.
- About 80% of dogs that are exposed to this virus will get sick.
- Most affected dogs recover fully.
- Canine influenza cannot be diagnosed just by looking at the dog. Various other bacteria and viruses can cause similar disease.
- Because the disease is caused by a virus, it can NOT be treated directly with antibiotics (just like influenza in people!)
- There is no vaccine for canine influenza.
- Canine influenza is not transmissible to people.
- Try to keep your dog away from any dogs that looks ill, particularly those that are coughing.
- If your dog starts coughing or looks otherwise sick, you should take your dog to the vet, especially if your dog has been in a kennel, shelter or in contact with another sick dog.
More information about control of canine influenza can be found on the American Veterinary Medical Association Public Health Information website.
To our knowledge, there are still no reported cases of canine influenza in Canada. However, it seems inevitable that the virus will eventually make its way north of the US border, considering the number of US states that are now affected.
Cats and avian influenza
The picture on the right is a Picasso painting entitled "Cat catching a bird". I often use this picture in presentations and ask "What if that bird was infected with avian flu?"
Avian flu is a tremendous concern at the moment. While it is not (currently) easily transmitted between people, bird-to-human infections have been reported in various countries. Mortality rates are very high, and the concern is that this strain could change to become easily transmitted between people, and lead to a pandemic (worldwide outbreak) not seen since the Spanish flu pandemic in the early 20th century. While birds and people are the focus, some attention has been paid to other species, such as cats.
Fatal avian flu developed in leopards and tigers in a zoo in Thailand during an avian flu outbreak. It was suspected that they ate infected chickens. Similarly, avian influenza in a pet cat was thought to have resulted from eating a dead pigeon (the pigeon presumably having died of avian flu). The potential role of cats in transmitting disease was highlighted by a study that reported that cats can become infected by eating infected birds, and can transmit avian flu to other cats.
While unproven, cats could theoretically play a role in transmitting this virus from birds to people. It's unlikely cats would be a major factor in a flu pandemic, but if such a situation were to arise, any possible source of transmission would need to be considered.
Should we worry about cats and avian flu right now? Worry....no. Be aware....yes. H5N1 avian influenza is not currently present in North America and it's hard to say if/when it will appear.
Should we think about cats when making plans for management of avian influenza if/when if reaches us? Absolutely. It's issues like this that get overlooked in outbreak planning.
Should I keep my cat inside? Yes. Outdoor cats are exposed to a large number of different infectious agents, including parasites and bacteria that can infect people. Outdoor cats can also get into fights, during which animals can transmit important diseases or cause nasty wounds. Also (obviously), an indoor cat isn't like to get hit by a cat...an important cause of premature death in cats.
Avian flu is just one more indication that our relationship with infectious diseases is much more complex than we've thought, and that broad (ecological) approaches to infectious disease control are required. We need to think about household pets when considering emerging infectious diseases because of the close and prolonged contact that millions of people have with their pets.
