October 20, 2009
A ferret with a respiratory infection was examined by a Portland, Oregon veterinary clinic on October 5, 2009. After learning the ferret’s owner had recently been ill with the flu, the veterinarian contacted the Oregon state veterinarian’s office and submitted a nasal swab from the ill ferret. Infection with the 2009/H1N1 virus was reported by the Oregon State University lab on October 8 and confirmed by a US Department of Agriculture lab on October 9.
Ferrets are susceptible to influenza A viruses. To date, this the first confirmed case of 2009/H1N1 infection in a ferret. There have not been any reports of humans infected with 2009/H1N1 from a ferret.
View the report on the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association’s Web site.
