Pets and Avian Influenza
Besides wild birds and domestic poultry (chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese and quail) and humans, we know that pigs, tigers, leopards, ferrets, and domestic cats can be infected with the H5N1 avian influenza A virus. Both experimental and real world infection of cats (domestics, tigers and leopards) has demonstrated that they can both host and transmit the infection. Germany also reported H5N1 infection in a stone marten (a weasel-like mammal). The avian influenza A (H5N1) virus that emerged in Asia in 2003 is evolving and it’s possible that other mammals may be susceptible to infection as well.
Cats
- Domestic cats are not usually susceptible to influenza type A infection, however, with the H5N1 avian influenza virus they can become infected and die (both experimentally and naturally). In a laboratory/research setting they have also spread the virus to other cats. It is not known whether domestic cats can spread the virus to other domestic cats under natural conditions.
- All of the influenza A (H5N1) infections in cats reported to date appear to have been associated with outbreaks in domestic or wild birds and acquired through ingestion of raw infected meat
- There is no evidence to date that cats can spread H5N1 to humans. No cases of avian influenza in humans have been linked to exposure to sick cats, and no outbreaks among populations of cats have been reported
- As long as there is no influenza A (H5N1) in the United States, there is no risk of a U.S. cat becoming infected with this disease. The virus circulating in Asia, Europe and Africa has not yet entered the United States
- If avian influenza A (H5N1) is identified in the United States and especially near your home, simple steps should be taken to reduce the risk of your pet cat becoming infected, including:
- Keeping cats and dogs indoors, unless being walked on a leash or otherwise confined, is best for their safety, regardless of risk of infection with the virus. Cats and dogs allowed to roam outdoors are exposed to many dangers, including automobile injuries, animal bites, poisoning, and other infectious diseases
- Minimize direct contact with feral cats
- Avoid being scratched or bitten
- Wear disposable gloves when handling food and water dishes, cages, and other surfaces that cats may have contacted, and wash hands afterwards
- Regularly clean and disinfect food and water dishes and cages
Dogs
- While dogs are not usually susceptible to avian influenza viruses, the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus has been documented to infect other carnivore species (e.g. cats, tigers, leopards, stone martens). This has raised concern that this strain of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus may be capable of infecting dogs
- An unpublished study carried out in 2005 by the National Institute of Animal Health in Bangkok indicated that dogs could be infected with the virus, but no associated disease was detected. This limited information is not enough to determine definitively whether dogs are susceptible to the virus
- If dogs are susceptible to avian influenza A (H5N1), they may become infected like cats, by eating infected wild birds or poultry
Pet Birds
- At present, the H5N1 avian flu is not known to be here in the United States. In order to protect your pet birds from avian flu and other avian diseases, keep your birds isolated from wild birds
- Isolation of newly acquired or ill birds from others for 30 days is recommended
- Those with pet birds, such as parrots, cockatiels, love birds or budgies should not worry about their pets getting “bird flu” if they have not been out of the country or in contact with birds from other countries
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| © This site is a collaborative effort of the New Mexico Department of Health, the New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, the New Mexico Livestock Board, and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
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