Bird Flu Facts for Pet Owners
The Bird flu, or avian influenza, is an infection caused by a strain of type A orthomyxovirus known as H5N1. This virus is found naturally in wild birds but does not typically cause illness. The H5N1 strain however is extremely contagious and can cause life-threatening illness in domesticated birds. The flu is spread through nasal secretions, saliva and feces. In addition to birds, humans, tigers, leopards, ferrets, martens, pigs and domestic cats are all susceptible to this infection. As the Avian virus spreads world wide, advice from experts in the field is that you should take steps to avoid your own domestic cats and animals from becoming infected. Here are a few facts to help pet owners better understand the risk and responsibility concerning the Bird Flu.
All reported cases of avian influenza AH5N1 infection in domestic cats have likely occurred from ingestion of infected raw poultry. It is relatively uncommon for domesticated cats to contract this virus, but it can happen after eating an infected bird. There is no evidence at this time that cats can spread the flu to humans.
Avian Flu has not yet been detected in the United States but if it does make its way to the U.S. you can protect your cat by keeping him indoors, keep stray cats out of the home and avoid contact with them, if a cat brings a sick or dead bird into the house or on your property, put on rubber gloves and dispose of the bird.
If you are in an area where Bird flu has been found in the wild birds or in domesticated poultry populations you should keep your cat indoors. Do not allow any of your domestic pets to come in contact with sick or dead animals. If any of your animals get sick and have been exposed to other sick or dead animals, you must quarantine the animal and notify your veterinarian. If you discover any deceased pets, notify your local veterinarian or animal control office.
The trap-neuter-return program (TNR) is a humane method of managing feral cat colonies that involves trapping the animals, spaying or neutering and vaccinating them and then returning the cats to where they were found. These cats live basically on the streets so they could be at a higher risk of eating an infected bird. These animals will be checked for illness when they are captured for their other treatments. There has been fear that this program will be terminated because of the Bird flu, however, it is more important to continue the program so the animals can be checked for illness. This will potentially help protect stray animals from contracting the virus.
Some scientists think that there's something so strange about H5N1 that it may simply be impossible for the virus to pass from human to human. If the avian influenza virus does not mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans, there will be no H5N1 pandemic. If the virus arrives on the U.S. shores, the illness response will be similar to what has happened in other countries: very rare sickness and death in people who work or live around chickens and other birds for meat, or who have otherwise come into contact with sick birds. This is good news for pets: The way the virus currently spreads means you are not going to get this disease from your pets, and they are unlikely to get it from one another. As long as H5N1 maintains its current features, both human and nonhuman family members can remain safe. The HSUS (Homeland Security Association) strongly encourages individuals to read the materials available at the U.S. government's web site on planning for a flu pandemic. While the current situation merits a calm and cautious approach, should the virus mutate to become human-to-human transmissible, people will need to be prepared to care for themselves (and their pets) under home quarantine conditions. You can find excellent recommendations for individual preparedness; generally speaking, individuals will need extended supplies of food, water, and basic medications for themselves and their animals.
If the Bird Flu comes to your part of the world, it is important not to panic but to stay informed through the local media outlets and practice good hygiene. You can still eat chicken, but handle it properly and make sure that it is cooked thoroughly to eliminate cross-contamination.