Pets deserve protection from the flu

It’s nothing short of sheer misery — a collective onslaught of fever, aches, runny nose, coughing fits and a slew of other uncomfortable-to-agonizing symptoms.

Making headlines, influenza is sweeping the nation this season.

In New Mexico alone, health officials recently reported the number of flu-like illnesses documented this season is double last year’s numbers, and with flu season yet to reach its peak, it’s still early.

The warnings from health folks begin to sink in as people watch family, friends and coworkers sniffle and hack with flushed cheeks and glassy eyes.

It’s created a culture of avoidance and downright rejection, not because people lack sympathy per say, but because nobody wants to be the next one to get sick.

You may think you’re toughing it out by venturing into public while ill, but you can expect anything but a hero’s welcome — more likely there will be glares, offers of hand sanitizer, the conspicuous spraying of disinfectant and choruses of “go home” from all you encounter.

If humans are so rapidly and efficiently spreading viruses during flu season, it’s natural for those with critter companions at home to wonder what, if any, risk sick humans may pose for pets.

Sure, the dog or cat realizes something’s up when human family members don’t get out of bed for days and piles of crumpled tissues grow into mountains. But clearly unaware they should stay away, as any self-respecting critter would, they are content to snuggle up and capitalize on the extra warmth and attention, even if it is tainted by mouth breathing and incessant sneezing.

Most of the time, humans worry that animals may carry infectious diseases or parasites that could make them sick, but recently, scientists have begun to question if the opposite may be possible — and it turns out, it is.

When a human passes a disease to an animal, it is known as reverse zoonosis and it’s become a growing area of interest in recent years, particularly with heightened awareness of the flu and virus mutations.

While documented cases of human-to-animal transmission of flu are rare — for instance, a 2012 warning from researchers at Oregon State University cited about a dozen cats and dogs that contracted H1N1 from infected humans — it’s probably been happening unnoticed for years, and lack of research, the increased relationship between humans and animals and ever-evolving virus landscape make change likely.

In 2014, when a team of health researchers scoured published reports on bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and diseases spanning three decades, they found evidence of animals being made sick by humans in 56 countries.

As the pet industry grows and more homes welcome animals — an estimated 68 percent of American households owned a pet in 2017, a growth of 12 percent over the past decade, according to the American Pet Products Association — the ways health and disease transmission have been understood are expected to change as well.

So in short, yes, you could potentially give your pets the flu.

Those studying reverse zoonotic transmission advise extending to pets the same care taken to prevent spreading the flu to other humans.

Wash hands often when sick, cover coughs and sneezes, discard used tissues in covered receptacles, keep used dishes and utensils out of reach of curious pets and avoid face-to-face contact. If a pet does show symptoms after a human has been ill — fever, lethargy, decreased appetite, sneezing and the like — seek veterinary care.

While pets generally appear to fare well when their people are sick, it’s better safe than sorry — they are, after all, part of the family.

Sharna Johnson is always searching for ponies. Contact her at: [email protected]