http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2012/oct/onset-flu-season-raises-concerns-about-human-pet-transmission%20" rel="nofollow - https://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2012/oct/onset-flu-season-raises-concerns-about-human-pet-transmission
CORVALLIS, Ore. – As flu season approaches, people who get sick may
not realize they can pass the flu not only to other humans, but possibly
to other animals, including pets such as cats, dogs and ferrets. comment: This has been emphatically denied by most vets for decades. New studies also show that Norovirus may spread from humans as well. According to the article -
This concept, called “reverse zoonosis,” is still poorly understood
but has raised concern among some scientists and veterinarians, who want
to raise awareness and prevent further flu transmission to pets. About
80-100 million households in the United States http://bit.ly/PaJqer" rel="nofollow - have a cat or dog .
It’s well known that new strains of influenza can evolve from animal
populations such as pigs and birds and ultimately move into human
populations, including the most recent influenza pandemic strain, H1N1.
It’s less appreciated, experts say, that humans appear to have passed
the H1N1 flu to cats and other animals, some of which have died of
respiratory illness.
There are only a handful of known cases of this phenomenon and the
public health implications of reverse zoonosis of flu remain to be
determined. But as a concern for veterinarians, it has raised troubling
questions and so far, few answers.
Veterinary researchers at Oregon State University and Iowa State
University are working to find more cases of this type of disease
transmission and better understand any risks they pose to people and
pets.
“We worry a lot about zoonoses, the transmission of diseases from
animals to people,” said Christiane Loehr, an associate professor in the
OSU College of Veterinary Medicine. “But most people don’t realize that
humans can also pass diseases to animals, and this raises questions and
concerns about mutations, new viral forms and evolving diseases that
may potentially be zoonotic. And, of course, there is concern about the
health of the animals.” Medclinician
------------- "not if but when" the original Medclinician
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