Avian InfluenzaThere have now been outbreaks of H5N1 Avian Influenza in several countries close to the EU and naturally the general public are becoming concerned and there is massive media interest in this disease.
It is worth keeping our fears about this disease in perspective! As yet we have had no outbreak in the UK. In countries such as Russia, Turkey and Romania where there have been outbreaks, the disease is still only one affecting birds, with no human cases reported as yet. In south-east Asia where the disease has been present for some time there has been a very small number of cases in humans. However we must remember that these people tend to live in very close proximity to their birds! As yet the disease seems to be one which is difficult to pass from bird to human and nearly unheard of to pass from one human to another.
Of course we would have a problem if the virus mutates and becomes a disease which passes easily from one person to another but as yet it has not done this. Nobody knows if this will happen or not, but the possibility that it could is there. I still don't think we should be panicking about it all too much yet. It does seem that the people most at risk if the disease does get a foothold in this country are those who work closely with birds, not the general public (unless the virus mutates). Anyone who does work closely with birds should obviously take good hygienic precautions as a matter of course in their daily work.
© Samantha Coe. All rights reserved. Further information, news and pet-related healthcare articles are available at vetbase.co.uk
Questions Answered
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Kidneys (cat) (25-Jan-07 11:27AM)
Julie asks:
I have been told that Moses kidneys are getting smaller, why would this be and he keeps being sick? ... view
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Polyneuroradiculopathy (dog) (10-Feb-07 09:43PM)
Emlyn asks:
I am trying to find out anything on the cause and or treatment of Polyneuroradiculopathy as I have an Irish Wolfhound with the disease. Any help would be very much appreciated ... view
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should I clean my horses sheath (equine) (03-Apr-07 08:13PM)
Jemima asks:
Is it necessary to clean my horses sheath? It is making a wooping noise when he runs, should I clean it or just leave it? If I do have to clean ... view
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Spaying (na) (03-May-07 04:47PM)
Carolyn asks:
I have recently had my 7 month old cat spayed. During the night she sometimes make a yowling sound and I am concerned that she may be calling. Does it take ... view
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Upside down fish! (aquatic) (06-Feb-07 04:22PM)
Gillian asks:
I have had my black moor fish for 3 months and all of a sudden he floats at the top of the tank upside-down. He can swim but its like if ... view
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why is sam peeing in the kitchen and lounge (dog) (03-Mar-07 04:58PM)
Patrick asks:
Sam really drinks lots of water until he gags or makes himself sick. After letting him out before we go to bed, he pees in the kitchen and over the floor ... view
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Hiccups (na) (03-Mar-07 09:40PM)
Greg asks:
Hi my dog has developed over the last couple of weeks, constant hiccups, greatly increased thirst and urination. Weight loss and tiredness. Have you any ideas? Booked into vets next week. ... view
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Cat Dribbling (A Lot) (cat) (22-Sep-07 12:29PM)
Steve asks:
I have noticed today that everywhere my cat has been sitting is a damp patch. He is dribbling all the time at the moment and hasn't eaten properly this morning. This ... view
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Prednoleucotropin (PLT) tablets (dog) (11-Feb-07 03:44PM)
Potts asks:
Are PLT tablets a corticosteriod and if so could these cause Cushings disease if used for a long period of time? ... view
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loss of fur (cat) (25-Jan-07 05:40PM)
 Terry asks:
saffi is a rescue cat and has been with us for 2 months, she will no longer let us groom her underneath, and has now started to lose fur from around ... view
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Behaviour & Hygiene (cat) (11-Feb-07 01:59PM)
Brenda asks:
Since being diagnosed with an over-active thyroid her personality has changed and she is eating her litter granules. What does this indicate, please? ... view
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Excessive drinking (dog) (30-Jan-07 11:00PM)
Heather asks:
My dog is drinking a lot of water lately, is this OK? ... view
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10 day old and 3 week old kittens dying (cat) (25-Feb-07 09:01PM)
Dawn asks:
Sorry this is a bit long winded to give optimum details. 5 of my show-breeding queens got pregnant when tom escaped pen one night, 10 days before she was due Mia ... view
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Hasn't gone toilet in nearly 2 weeks (reptile) (05-Apr-07 02:12PM)
Owen asks:
Hi there,
My Northern Pine Snake hasn't gone to the toilet for almost 2 weeks. Am starting to worry about him, He has had 3 small Rats and a Chick in ... view
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Lumps (dog) (01-Feb-07 09:26PM)
Helen asks:
She has a number of lumps, some soft, some hard. One is on her chest. Is there a way of telling whether she has cancer and at 11 is ... view
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Our dog seems to have given up on life. (na) (26-Jan-07 11:26PM)
Claire asks:
We have a bedlington cross, he is a rescue dog and we believe he's about 11. Over the last few weeks he has gradually gone off his food. We ... view
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Excessive Drooling (dog) (31-Jan-07 09:27PM)
Helen asks:
Jake is excessively drooling from the right hand side of his mouth, wetting his bedding and furniture. I took him to the vets where they said it was nothing to worry ... view
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fit (dog) (20-Jun-07 11:50AM)
Julie asks:
Is there anyway I can tell if my dog is going to have a fit before it happens? ... view
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Dogs penis not retracting (dog) (30-Jan-07 04:07PM)
Roger asks:
Our 6 year old terrier has a persistent problem with his penis in that it rarely retracts. He did have an infection but this cleared up with the vet's treatment. Although ... view
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Getting another hamster! (na) (12-Sep-07 10:27PM)
Lindsey asks:
I have a full grown adult, female, Blueberry Dwarf Hamster that is not neutered. I was wondering if I could buy another hamster, but a new baby one (of the same ... view
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Your Questions Answered
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Injured Wild Owl 30-Nov-07
Kelly asks:
I found an owl this morning, very small but adult. It flew into a power line. It's still alive. ... view
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swollen hind leg 20-Nov-07
 Zshai asks:
I have a 6-day-old bunny who has a swollen hind leg. I saw her mama step on her but ... view
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Sick syrian hamster 08-Nov-07
Sara asks:
Hi. My syrian hamster is 2 and half yrs. old. The last 24 hrs I have noticed a big ... view
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lack of sleep 07-Nov-07
Bill asks:
We have a 14 month old Yorkshire terrier, which goes to bed at around 6.30pm, because I have MS ... view
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wet tail 06-Nov-07
Evelyn asks:
Can a young hamster be successfully treated for wet tail and what would it roughly cost? ... view
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Alfie 06-Nov-07
Elaine asks:
Hi Sam
Thank you. Alfie has no feeding time he just has food in his bowl when he wants it ... view
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Guarding problem 05-Nov-07
 Elaine asks:
Alfie is a terrible guarder and will take your hand off if you try and retrieve an object he ... view
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White Gums and Dark Stool 02-Nov-07
Leslie asks:
My 8 week old American Bulldog has really white gums, around the eyes is also white. She has dark ... view
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Dog's Health 01-Nov-07
William asks:
My dog is around 11 years old, possibly older (we received her as she was taken from a bad ... view
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behaviour 31-Oct-07
Debby asks:
Hi Max is very lively of course but he seems to get very excited and bites the children, not ... view
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Blood in dog's stools 31-Oct-07
Lee asks:
Hi. We recently got a 3 year old Labrador from a friend. From what we can see she has ... view
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upset stomach 30-Oct-07
kat asks:
About three days ago my dog started acting like she was sick; diarrhoea and vomiting along with excessive sneezing ... view
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Blood in Poo 28-Oct-07
Mandy asks:
Treacle is now 9 wks old and had her first vaccination two days ago. I have noticed that at ... view
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neutering 27-Oct-07
 ashen1956 asks:
3 days ago Molly-Mae gave birth to 5 kittens. How long should I wait before having her neutered and ... view
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Ordering Insulin Online 26-Oct-07
Purdie asks:
Purdie is diabetic and I'm keen to find a way of reducing the cost of the treatment. Currently ... view
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Fleas and skin problem 26-Oct-07
Joanne asks:
I have two cats, a neutered tom and his sister. They are 6 and a half yrs. old. They ... view
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My cat has a hole in its stomach! 23-Oct-07
Sarah asks:
My cat has a hole the size of a dime in its stomach. He doesn't seem to be ... view
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labrador vomiting bile and nearly passing out 22-Oct-07
Paul asks:
Hi there - our five year old male labrador is generally in very good health - excellent appetite, plenty ... view
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Guinea pig fits 22-Oct-07
Renate asks:
My guinea pig is acting strange. I've only had him around a week and he's running as if spooked ... view
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feeding 22-Oct-07
Terry asks:
Is it safe to feed my GSD raw chicken wings, he is 16 months old and is 37 kg? ... view
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