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Iowa Cat Catches Swine Flu

It's the first feline case, but not a huge surprise

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 4, 2009 2:41 PM CST

(Newser) – Health officials in Iowa have diagnosed the nation's first cat with swine flu. The 13-year-old indoor cat apparently caught the H1N1 virus from a member of its household of the human variety. Such human-to-feline transmissions have occurred with other strains of flu, so it's not all that surprising, a health official tells the Des Moines Register.

The cat has recovered since the initial diagnosis, as have both ill humans in the house. The feline joins pigs, birds, and ferrets as those with confirmed cases of H1N1 in the animal kingdom. That's no cause for alarm, says a state veterinarian. “Animal to human transmission is very rare. It's much more likely for an animal to catch it from a human."

This poor kitty is sick. But not with swine flu. But one is Iowa is.
This poor kitty is sick. But not with swine flu. But one is Iowa is.   (Shutter Stock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
plstyle
Nov 4, 2009 9:18 AM CST
Chuckles to self... A Cat must of pissed on the wrong bio engineers sheets
andyb
Nov 4, 2009 9:14 AM CST
so will a piano cat cover of "Don't Inject Me" be available on YouTube soon?
Unaffiliated
Nov 4, 2009 8:58 AM CST
Quick, vaccinate all the cats, too!

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