We have evidence here in the United States that both cats and ferrets can catch swine flu (H1N1) from humans. Officials in China are concerned that pandas may also be susceptible to the disease.
A panda research center has been closed to visitors in hopes of protecting the endangered pandas from swine flu. The Shaanxi Wild Animal Rescue and Research Center started seeing increased numbers of swine flu cases and flu symptoms in general after the weather turned cold and snowy in November. Now they’ve put a halt on recruiting new volunteers and are not allowing staff members with flu-like symptoms to approach the pandas.
The Shaanxi facility is one of four giant panda preserves in China. Right now, the twenty-one panda residents all appear to be in good health. Staff members are taking extra precautions to make sure the pandas stay healthy — even though there have been no reported cases of viruses spreading from human to panda.
Once the outbreak dies down, the Shaanxi Wild Animal Rescue and Research Center will surely open to new volunteers and visitors again.
China has officially reported close to seventy thousand cases of swine flu, but global health officials suspect that the number may be much bigger than that. The nation is working to vaccinate high-risk groups (like students and pregnant women) against swine flu as quickly as possible. In the meantime, quarantines and school closures across China are hoped to prevent the disease from spreading.
Right now, there is no evidence that swine flu can be transmitted from human to panda. Still, I don’t think it hurts to take precautions just in case. I wouldn’t have thought the disease could spread to cats, but it has! There is currently no swine flu vaccine for animals, but you can help prevent the spread of the disease by washing hands frequently, sanitizing shared surfaces, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue, handkerchief, or sleeve.
If you are concerned about swine flu and your pets (or animals you work with), speak to your veterinarian.