I’ve heard reports of high pathogenic H5N1 infections in domestic cats and dogs. Is it possible for household pets to contract avian flu?
Avian flu typically affects species of food producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.), as well as pet birds and wild birds. Studies have shown that a small number of mammalian species are susceptible to natural infection with avian flu viruses. While there have been recent reports of high pathogenic H5N1 avian flu infection with mortality in domestic cats and tigers in zoos, this is a rare event. These cases continue to be investigated, but current indications are that it is unlikely that high pathogenic H5N1 infection in cats presents a significant risk to human health. There is little or no evidence of H5N1 infection or mortality in dogs. A study of 600 stray dogs in Thailand, where the highly pathogenic strain of H5N1 is very common, detected 25 per cent of these dogs carrying H5N1 antibodies, proving that the dogs had been exposed to the disease but shed it and showed no signs of sickness. It is important to remember that the high pathogenic H5N1 virus of conce
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