Officials report H1N1 infection in an Iowa cat
SWINE FLU: People in feline’s home experienced symptoms before illness

DES MOINES, Iowa — A 13-year-old Iowa cat has been infected with swine flu, veterinary and federal officials said Wednesday, and it is believed to be the first case of the virus in a feline.

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Indiana pigs test positive

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday that pigs in a commercial herd in Indiana have tested positive for swine flu, making it the first time the virus has been found in such hogs.

The USDA said it discovered four tissue samples that tested positive for the virus using its swine surveillance program.

The sample was collected in late October, and the USDA said the pigs as well as the people caring for the animals have recovered.

Last month, tests confirmed several show pigs at the Minnesota State Fair contracted swine flu.

USDA officials have stressed repeatedly that instances of pigs with swine flu do not pose a threat to consumers of pork products.

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What were symptoms?

The indoor cat was lethargic, had a loss of appetite and appeared to have trouble breathing after it became infected, said the veterinarian who treated it.

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The domestic shorthaired cat was treated last week at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ames and has recovered, officials said. The virus also has been confirmed in ferrets — one in Oregon and another in Nebraska — but they died.

"We’ve known certainly it’s possible this could happen,” said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokesman Tom Skinner. "This may be the first instance where we have documentation that transmission occurred involving cats or dogs.”

The veterinarian who treated the cat, Dr. Brett Sponseller, said two of the three people in the cat’s Iowa home had flu-like symptoms before the cat became ill. The H1N1 case was confirmed at both Iowa State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Other influenza strains have been known to cross species, but Sponseller cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from the cat including whether other pets could also get the swine flu.

"It’s well documented in influenza in general, but this is the first highly suspected case of H1N1 going from humans into a cat,” he said.

Officials said pet owners should take the same precautions against spreading swine flu to pets as they would with humans.

Getting children vaccinated can also help prevent the illness from spreading to pets. There is no swine flu vaccine for pets.

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