Can ferrets catch Swine Flu from pigs?

Answer 1

Yes, they can. This is particularly unfortunate from their point of view as not only does it mean they can become ill through contact with humans, they're also used in laboratory experiments to find cold and 'flu remedies.

So, if you have either a cold or the 'flu, try to handle your ferret as little as possible, wash your hands thouroughly when you do handle them and don't hold them up near your face. Whatever you do, do not give the ferret cold or 'flu remedies intended for use by humans - many contain aspirin and other medicines which are fatal to ferrets.

Answer 2

It is known that ferrets have caught the pandemic Swine Flu H1N1/09 from their sick owners, so they are susceptible to the specific virus. Therefore, it is likely that they could also catch it from a pig if the pig has the exact same 2009 pandemic swine flu. Most types of the flu that the pigs get are different from the pandemic H1N1, however, and it is unlikely that they would get the "ordinary pig flu" from a pig, since usually animals of different species don't get the same types of the flu. However, it is perhaps possible for ferrets since we know they can get the H1N1/09 flu. If you have sick pigs, I'd keep the ferrets away and I'd keep my hands washed well after any contact with the sick pigs so I wouldn't pass virus particles on to the ferrets.

Answer 3

No, ferrets do not get colds, however they can catch influenza virus (flu)