Blog-Wa, the Dog-Wa Blog

Reuters reports that a pet cat had been infected with the pandemic swine flu virus, apparently by its owners, who had reported flu-like illness in the days before.

“This is just another illustration of why influenza viruses are so tricky and frustrating and interesting at the same time, is this ability to occasionally jump species,” said Dr. Carolyn Bridges of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Bridges said it is impossible to know how many pets may have been infected — this particular cat lived near a sophisticated animal laboratory in Iowa where vets ran an influenza test out of curiosity. The good news is that the cat survived.

So here’s another reason to use commonsense:  wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and consider whether the vaccination is right for you.