2009 influenza A (H1N1) in free ranging Vancouver skunks
Photo: donjd2 from Flickr
In January 2010, a fatal outbreak of
influenza A 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) pneumonia in eight free ranging
striped skunks which frequented a mink farm in the lower Fraser Valley
was diagnosed by the Animal Health Centre in Abbotsford, British
Columbia. This occurred during the worldwide pandemic of 2009 H1N1, and
it was concluded that the skunks had most likely contracted the virus as
a result of human exposure. In March 2011, the Animal Health Centre
again diagnosed fatal 2009 H1N1 pneumonia in a skunk that was found dead
in a large public park in Vancouver. City park workers reported that
hand feeding skunks is a common practice by park visitors and it was
presumed that the skunk had contracted the virus due to human exposure.
As a result of these findings, an
influenza survey was initiated whereby dead skunks found by Vancouver
city park workers are submitted to the Animal Health Centre for full
necropsy and tested for influenza virus. To date, eight skunks have been
analyzed. Seven skunks were found to have died from severe trauma. The
cause of death could not be determined in the eighth skunk due to
advanced decomposition. All of the eight submissions were negative for
influenza virus.
Influenza virus infection of skunks has
not been detected in surveys of wildlife conducted by other
investigators. We hypothesize that influenza virus is highly virulent
for skunks and thus, seemingly healthy skunks are not likely carriers of
the disease. If so, this would constitute a true anthroponotic
disease: influenza virus passes from humans to skunks but not from
skunks to humans. To minimize the potential for influenza exposure,
human contact by way of hand feeding, petting or littering in areas
frequented by skunks should be publicly discouraged, especially during
influenza season.
