Skip Navigation Linksnovelflu

NOVEL Influenzaā€‹ā€‹ (Flu)


Note: Current Bird Flu Situation information has moved to the Bird Flu webpage. ā€‹


Influenza in Animals

There are many different kinds of influenza (flu) viruses that make people and animals sick. This webpage provides information about flu in animals that can sometimes make people sick. For information about seasonal flu in humans, please visit the CDPH Influenza (Flu) webpage. ā€‹ā€‹

What You Need to Know


  • Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. Flu can make both people and animals sick.

  • Novel flu means ā€œnew fluā€ and is a type of disease that can spread between animals and humans (called a ā€œzoonosisā€).

  • Novel flu is different from seasonal flu in humans. Seasonal flu normally spreads among humans and infects many people every year.

  • Most people do not have any immunity against novel flu, so prevention is important to keep novel flu from spreading.


What is Novel Influenza (flu)?

A novel flu is different from the flu viruses that regularly infect people every year (also called ā€œseasonal fluā€). Novel flu viruses in animals occasionally become able to infect people and make them sick. Most animal flu viruses that can infect humans do not spread easily between people, and novel flu is much less common than seasonal flu. However, some viruses change in a way that allows them to spread from person to person. Most people have little immunity to novel flu viruses because they have not been exposed to them before. Flu pandemics can happen when a novel flu virus spreads easily from person to person and makes people around the world sick. Pandemics caused by novel flu are uncommon, but when they do happen, they can make many people sick. An example of pandemic flu was the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009, which lead to 43-89 million illnesses in the United States.

Types of Flu

  • CalendarSeasonal flu viruses make millions of people sick each year.

  • Novel fluNovel flu is ā€œnewā€ flu that is different from seasonal flu viruses that already exist. Novel flu is much less common than seasonal flu, and it can develop when flu viruses from animals become capable of infecting people.

  • Global pandemicPandemic flu is rare and occurs when a novel flu virus is able to spread easily between people.

Where Do Novā€‹el Flu Viruses Come From? ā€‹

Chicken

Flu viruses constantly change (mutate). In rare situations, these changes can make it easier for certain viruses to spread from animals to people and possibly between people.

ā€‹ā€‹Many animals have their own flu viruses that can cause them to have fever, tiredness, and respiratory symptoms such as cough, runny nose, and trouble breathing. Some animals infected with flu viruses can look healthy, but they are still able to spread the virus to other animals.

Pig

Most animal flu viruses rarely infect humans. However, flu viruses from birds and pigs (swine) can mix and sometimes make humans sick. Bird or swine flu can spread very fast between animals and cause large numbers of animals to get sick and die. 


How Do Novel Flu Viruses Spread?

Person coughingPeople can be exposed to novel flu viruses when they have close contact with infected animals or their environments. Flu viruses usually spread through droplets that come from an infected personā€™s or animalā€™s nose and mouth. Droplets spread through the air when a person or animal coughs or sneezes. People can also spread droplets in the air when they talk. Healthy animals or people can get infected when they breathe in these virus particles from droplets in the air or if they touch a surface where the droplets have landed and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth. Birds shed flu virus in their feces (poop), and humans can become infected with bird flu through contact with poop particles on surfaces or in the air. 

ā€‹What Do I Need to Know to Prevent Novel Flu?

ā€‹Most people do not have any immunity against novel flu, so prevention is important to keep novel flu from spreading.

If you visit animals at fairs, pettingā€‹ zoos, educational farms, summer camps, or other places where animals are present, you can help prevent getting and spreading novel flu by taking the following steps:

  • Wash your hands ā€‹ā€‹often with soap and water.

    • Regular handwashing can remove harmful germs and prevent illness.

    • Handwashing is very important after touching or being around animals and before eating or putting anything in your mouth.

  • Stay away from sick or dead wild animals, especially wild pigs (boar) and wild birds like ducks and geese.

  • Pigs and birds that seem healthy can still spread germs. Young children and older adults are more likely to get sick from animal germs, even if they are healthy. People in these groups should stay away from pigs and birds (such as chickens and ducks) and should not visit swine or bird barns and exhibits.

  • Keep food and drink for humans out of barns, coops, and other areas where animals are kept ā€” don't eat, drink, or put anything in your mouth while you are in animal areas and not until you wash your hands after leaving animal areas.

  • Don't take toys, cups, or other household items into animal areas where they can get contaminated with animal germs.

ā€‹What Do I Do to Prevent Novel Flu If I Own or Show Poultry or Pigs?

People who raise and show birds or pigs can follow these additional guidelines to help prevent flu in their animals:

  • When you add a new animal to your herd or flock, keep it separated until a veterinarian can examine it and check that it is not carrying any diseases.

  • If you or someone close to you is sick with flu-like symptoms (such as cough, fever, or runny nose), plan for someone else to feed and care for your animals until you or your close contacts are well.

  • Keep animal areas clean by regularly removing poop and washing surfaces with soap and water. When cleaning pig poop and bird droppings, wear protective clothing, gloves, and a mask that covers your mouth and nose.

  • Make sure that animals receive regular veterinary care, including preventive care such as vaccinations.

    • Follow your veterinarian's advice for vaccinating your animals against flu and other diseases.

  • Remove and separate from the herd or flock any animals that have a cough, diarrhea, or other signs of flu until they are no longer sick.ā€‹

More Information: Prevention and Antiviral Treatment of Avian Influenza A Viruses in People

ā€‹What is the California Department of Public Health ā€‹Doing About Novel Flu?

Many agencies in California are working together to track and prevent novel flu in California, especially avian flu (bird flu), which can pose a threat to human health. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) works with local health departments to track human exposures to avian flu, while the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) respond to outbreaks of avian flu in wild birds, poultry farms and livestock ranches, and backyard flocks throughout the state. Tracking avian flu is important to prevent the spread of flu between farms and to humans. CDPH, CDFA, CDFW, and local health departments work together to identify and respond to outbreaks of avian flu, stop or slow its spread, and monitor and evaluate people who had contact with infected animals. ā€‹

Information About Specific Kinds of Flu in Animals

ā€‹Fā€‹lu Type
ā€‹Types of Animals Infected
ā€‹Infects Humans?

ā€‹Bird Flu

ā€‹Poultry, wild birds, waterfowl, mammals
ā€‹Yes, sometimes
Dog & Cat Flu
ā€‹Dogs, cats
ā€‹No
ā€‹Horse Flu
ā€‹Horses
ā€‹No
ā€‹Swine Flu
ā€‹Pigs
ā€‹Yes, sometimes
ā€‹

Pet owners are not at risk of becoming sick from companion animals (such as dogs and horses) that have flu. To keep pets safe, follow recommendations from your veterinarian about vaccinating and treating your pets.

Page Last Updated :