Bird Flu Protection For You and Your Pet

The sad story here is that when a case of bird flu is found, people in the vicinity of the bird flu outbreak have been known to panic and destroy or dump their dogs or cats.

It is certainly an awful situation and unnecessary if your pet has been mostly indoors or on a leash. Owners that let their pets run wild are being irresponsible because it is possible for pets to come into contact with bird flu virus by simply sniffing out a dead bird on the street that may be infected.

The A H5N1 is a subtype bird flu virus and is dangerous because it can infect birds, pigs, chickens, and other animals!

Most important to realize is that this bird flu strain can pass from pet to pet owner and vice-versa!

It is therefore imperative to protect yourself, your family and your pet.

The most effective means of protection is to keep your pets from running loose.

Pet birds should only be kept inside and if you live in a rural area, do not let your pets run free.

There is a more pronounced risk especially if you live near wooded areas where birds frequent.

Currently, the bird flu has been found mostly in Asia and parts of Europe, the Near East, and Africa.

It appears that two of the medications typically used for influenza - amantadine and rimantadine, are not effective. This would leave two remaining antiviral medications (oseltamivir and zanamivir) that should still be effective against currently circulating strains of H5N1 virus.

Efforts to produce a better vaccine for avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses, are currently under way.

If a pandemic should ever become a reality, a quarantine of all pets is essential because during a bird flu pandemic pet dogs and cats that have been running loose must NOT be allowed back into your house or yard.

You don't want your pets to be exposed to any animals running loose through the streets and you don't want them being petted by strangers who may not realize that they themselves are infected!

It is therefore important to protect your pets during a bird flu pandemic by keeping them away from people outside your immediate family.

For updates on the status of avian bird flu, visit the The World Health Organization.