There are a few diseases that are normally passed from cats and other animals to human beings, and are referred to as “zoonotic illnesses”. Some of these conditions include ringworm, conjunctivitis (or “pink eye), and certain strains of flu. However, diseases are passed from human to animal much less frequently. These rare instances have been termed “reverse zoonosis”.
During the H1N1 (“Swine Flu”) outbreak of 2009, there were about a dozen documented cases in which domesticated cats were infected and are believed to have contracted the disease through human contact. But while there is increasing evidence that human guardians can transmit the flu and other common illnesses to their pets, there are so few cases of this that have been reported that it is not recognized as a significant risk.
In any case, the spread of influenza and other viruses to cats and other pets can be prevented by making sure that as a pet parent, you are up to date on your vaccinations and take usual precautions to avoid sicknesses, including washing hands, sanitizing common surfaces in the home, etc.
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