# 4038
Cats, normally, are not affected by human influenza viruses.
Feline Influenza, which can be very serious in cats, is actually a generic term for a respiratory syndrome caused viruses that are not of the influenza family.
Feline influenza syndrome is commonly caused by the feline herpes virus (FHV 1) and feline calicivirus (FCV), neither of which are of the influenza family of viruses.
The exception to this has been that we’ve seen many reports of cats in Indonesia, Thailand, and other places that have contracted the H5N1 bird flu virus. A few blogs on those reports over the years include:
Apparently They Didn't Get The Memo
Korea: Cat Death Attributed To Bird Flu
FAO To Study H5N1 Infection In Cats
Cat Got Your Virus?
Up until recently it was assumed that cats were not susceptible to the H1N1 virus. Over the past 3 weeks, however, we’ve learned of 2 cats that have tested positive for the virus.
A newscast out of China last week (See China Worries Over Species Jumping H1N1) stated that they’ve seen similar infections in that nation, but offered no details.
Recent monitoring has found several cases of pigs, cats and dogs infected by the human A/H1N1 flu virus. Experts now fear that close contact between people and animals will increase the danger of mutation. –CCTV News
And today we get this report from The DMV Magazine, describing a 3rd cat with the virus.
H1N1-infected cat dies in Oregon
Nov 18, 2009
DVM NEWSMAGAZINELebanon, Ore. -- A cat testing positive for pandemic H1N1 influenza died, according to the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association.
A week after a family member in the Oregon household exhibited influenza-like symptoms, one of the four cats in the household showed signs of labored breathing.
The cat's owner brought the 10-year-old male to a veterinarian Nov. 4. The cat presented with a 101.7 temperature and a chest radiograph consistent with pneumonia.
After the cat's respiratory rate worsened, the cat was admitted Nov. 5 and treated with oxygen and medication.
The cat died Nov. 7.
Laboratory results from Oregon State University's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed the cat was infected with pandemic H1N1.
This was the third confirmed case of H1N1 in a cat in the United States, with others surfacing in Iowa and Utah.
Viruses generally adapt to a fairly narrow range of species. Horse viruses generally attack equines, and not say, cats and dogs. Cat viruses tend to attack felines, and not birds. Bird viruses usually only infect avian species.
The species that a virus will infect is known as its host range.
And while usually limited, it isn't always the case. Rabies is a good example of a virus that can infect a wide host of species.
The H1N1 virus is turning out to be fairly promiscuous. It has turned up in swine (no surprise), humans, turkeys, ferrets, cats, and is rumored in china to have affected dogs.
All of which has scientists paying close attention to see what this virus will do next.
