Bird flu case in Thai dog raises questions about infection

'Thai scientists have reported a case of H5N1 influenza infection in a dog, a finding that lengthens the unusually long list of mammals this avian flu virus can infect....

Since H5N1 flared up in Asia in late 2003, tigers, leopards, domestic cats and now dogs have become infected with the virus by eating infected chicken or duck carcasses. Other mammals — a stone marten, and a small number of pigs — have also been shown to be susceptible to infection, though in those cases the mode of transmission isn't yet documented...

The authors say the proof that dogs too can be infected with this virus “warrants concern and highlights the need for monitoring domestic animals during outbreaks in the future.”'...more

Those of us who have been following bird flu have known for a couple of years that dogs have died from the H5N1 virus. We are glad to see it is now being reported in the medical journals. Stay tuned to birdflubeacon.com for continuing coverage.