Scientists from Purdue University are working with Banfield, the veterinary chains, to keep an eye on for avian flu and other disease spread from animals to people. Experts suspect that migrating birds may cause some diseases such as H5N1 in the United States this year and it might get in to humans through their pets.
However, the risk of a pet passing avian flu to human is supposed to be low. But, the researchers think it’s crucial to concentrate where bird flu is present before it hits humans.
The National Companion Animal Surveillance Program scrutinizes millions of electronic pet health records from Banfield offices through out the country. Americans are under strict observations because of close relationship with their more than 150 million pets.
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