[Nyagdu] confirm cases of dogs getting swine flu from humans

[cheryl echevarria]

It was on Eyewitness News this evening,

NEW YORK -- A dog in suburban New York is the first in the nation confirmed to be carrying the same strain of swine flu that is infecting humans, experts said Tuesday. 

The 13-year-old mixed breed male, which is recovering, apparently caught the virus from his owner. But Michael San Filippo, a spokesman for the American Veterinary Medical Association, said there's no evidence that the flu strain can be transmitted from a pet to a person.

"In theory it could happen, but so far it's really looking like a dead end in pets," he said.

Dr. Anne Schuchat of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that animals can carry and spread flu viruses, but such cases are rare and people should not be afraid to enjoy their pets.


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More: Swine flu resource guide<http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/feature?section=news&id=6781324>

The CDC says swine flu is waning among humans. It said infections were widespread in 11 states, down from 48 in late October. 

San Filippo said the diagnosis of the 2009 H1N1 virus was confirmed at two labs, including Iowa State University's.

The dog, suffering breathing problems, was taken to the Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center in Bedford Hills, N.Y., on Dec. 13.

The medical director there, David Sachs, said he had the dog tested for swine flu because its owner previously had the virus.

The practice would not identify the owner or give the dog's name and Sachs said the owner had decided against speaking with reporters.

The dog came in for a checkup Tuesday and is "getting back to his old self" but has not fully recovered, said veterinarian Julie Steffens.

Among pets, cats and ferrets have previously been found to catch the swine flu strains from humans, and at least one cat and one ferret have died, San Filippo said.

He said the veterinary association is recommending that people with ailing pets wash their hands often. If swine flu is suspected in either owner or pet, he said, "isolate yourselves from each other, which we realize is only possible to some degree."

Ann Hohenhaus, spokeswoman for the Animal Medical Center in New York, said if a pet or an owner is sick, "Don't play kissyface with your dog or your cat or your ferret. You wouldn't with your kids if you were sick, so don't do it with your pet."

Cheryl Echevarria
Echevarriatravel.com
1-866-580-5574
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Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel CST-1018299-10
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Marion & Martin<mailto:swampfox1833 at verizon.net> 
  To: New York Association of Guide Dog Users<mailto:nyagdu at nfbnet.org> 
  Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 7:38 PM
  Subject: Re: [Nyagdu] confirm cases of dogs getting swine flu from humans


  Cheryl,
      I am unsure about this information. Do you have an authoritative 
  reference concerning this? I have received other such messages and asked my 
  betrinarian about this. He told me that there is no evidence that the H1N1 
  virus can be transmitted to canines. He did tell me, however, that there is 
  an influenza virus that is canine specific. At the same time, he told me 
  that this should only be a concern among dogs that live or are boarded in 
  kennels. Again, any information from an authoritative source would be 
  greatly appreciated.

  Fraternally yours,
  Marion


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com<mailto:cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>>
  To: "nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>>; "New York Association of Guide Dog Users" 
  <nyagdu at nfbnet.org<mailto:nyagdu at nfbnet.org>>
  Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 7:06 PM
  Subject: [Nyagdu] confirm cases of dogs getting swine flu from humans


  > More issues with the H1N1 Virus or swine flu, in the New York area there 
  > are confirmed cases of Swine flu for both dogs, cats, and birds, and it 
  > has been confirmed that this has been transmitted by humans to the 
  > animals.
  >
  > So if you have it don't pass it along to anyone, and if you know someone 
  > who has it stay far away from them.
  >
  > Cheryl Echevarria
  > Echevarriatravel.com
  > 1-866-580-5574
  > Reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:Reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:Reservations at echevarriatravel.com%3Cmailto:Reservations at echevarriatravel.com>>
  > Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel 
  > CST-1018299-10
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