News that an Iowa cat has been diagnosed with swine flu has sparked a new round of concerns, as pet-owners worry both that their furry companions could get sick, and that their pets could pass the virus on to other humans.
The 13-year-old, mixed-breed cat showed the symptoms of lethargy, sneezing and coughing typical to sick cats [ABC News].
The veterinarians who treated him say that several people in the cat's home had been experiencing flu-like symptoms, and lab work confirmed that the feline had the H1N1 virus. Happily, the cat is expected to make a full recovery. But both vets and public health officials are rushing to reassure the public that one sick cat probably does not indicate a coming crisis. While it's possible that more cats will be diagnosed with the swine flu, vets point out that the virus was circulating for more than six months before the ...
