Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse with the H1N1 flu scare, pet owners all over the globe could face infection of the H1N1 flu to their pets.
The China Daily News reported two dogs were infected with the H1N1 virus and possibly caught it from humans in a news report November 30th, 2009.
Health officials in China assure people that the infected dogs do not pose a risk to humans. Are we at risk? Are our U.S. officials telling us the truth about this virus? Is China health organization telling the truth?
http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/healthandcommunity/091130/txt/091130en05002.htm?
You can visit the Hong Kong information website at the link above. The Chinese government does not have all the facts yet.
It appears to be too early to tell what sort of risk these dogs or other infected dogs pose to humans and other animals.
Because we are so globally linked to each other an infected dog could hypothetically fly from Hong Kong to Honolulu in a matter of hours. Airport officials are not prepared to face such a scary situation. An infected pet could pose a risk to people in New York where there is no dog quarantine like the State of Hawaii has. Sick dogs are not allowed into the state of Hawaii.
Symptoms of the flu are respiratory in nature: sneezing, coughing.
Things to do to prevent flu transmission are washing your hands and staying home if you are ill. The more you avoid being crowds of people—the lower your risk of any communicable illness like the flu. Get a flu vaccine if you can find any available. There is a flu vaccine shortage in Hawaii at the moment. Contact your doctor for more information.
If you have any flu concerns with you pet contact your veterinarian.
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