JFK Terminal 9. Photo by Martin St. Amant. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons..

John F. Kennedy International Airport is perfectly poised to become the starting point of the next pandemic, according to a new MIT study. Researchers considered the size of the airport, average number of passengers, and connections to other airports, while also using human travel patterns to calculate the chance of any one person traveling from one airport to another.  Airports with the widest and most consistent diffusion of passengers around the world were ranked highest on the list of potential viral hotspots, with airports in Los Angeles, Honolulu, San Francisco, Newark, Chicago and Washington trailing Kennedy closely in terms of contagion influence.

In a break with previous research on contagion networks and the spread of disease, the study focuses on the earliest days of the epidemic rather than its highest intensity. In the event of an emergency, this new information could prove useful to world governments and public health officials, according to scientists involved in the study. Knowing easy viral pathways could help authorities protect them from biological warfare, and vaccines could be allocated more efficiently during the crucial first response to a global health crisis like the 2009 H1N1 outbreak

By Clare Coffey

Child with pertussis aka 'whooping cough'. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

by Adel Manoukian

The number of whooping cough cases has tripled in the last year—a change that hasn’t happened in 50 years.

In 2012 alone, there have been 1,288 cases reported in New York State with 186 in New York City and 333 on Long Island.

According to recent reports, one of the causes for the spike in cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is related to adults who have not been vaccinated since the age of 18 contracting the disease and then spreading it to children. Pertussis is highly contagious, and the booster shot that protects adults may have worn off already.

The bacterial disease affects all age groups, most severely affecting children and the elderly. Early symptoms may be confused with the common cold because they are mild and similar.  To tell the difference, pertussis is associated with a ‘whooping’ sound when coughing, made especially by young children.

Five doses of vaccine treatments are given to children but with time they wear off, so adults are also urged to have their booster shots.

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to make way for a three-part plan for combating the disease. He wants the center to work with the state health department to provide free vaccinations and to set up clinics around New York to administer the shots.  Schumer also wants to launch a public information campaign about the dangers of whooping cough, mainly targeting adults who have not been vaccinated since the age of 18. Lastly, Schumer urged the CDC to provide ample supply and easy distribution of the vaccines, called DTaP, DT, Tdap and Td, across the US.  Schumer worries that the shortfalls during the H1N1 outbreak a few years ago will happen again if measures like these are not taken.

“Whooping cough is rearing its ugly head and we need to get on top of this highly contagious disease before it becomes too big to control,” said Schumer in a recent statement. ”We must also ensure we have ample supply of vaccine to hopefully curb this dangerous trend before it becomes even worse.”

Infected humans are known to have previously transmitted H1N1 to both pigs and turkeys. The virus was first reported in humans in Mexico in March 2009. Subsequent reports of infected swine and poultry in multiple geographic areas followed. In addition to the Iowa cat, several pet ferrets were also recently infected with the virus by humans, with one fatality thus far of a ferret in Nebraska.
So how can we protect our pets and ourselves from H1N1? People with flu-like symptoms should use similar precautions recommended to minimize transmission of the virus between humans, such as washing hands thoroughly (particularly before handling the pet or preparing food), covering coughs and sneezes and avoiding close contact with the pet. It is common for cats to share beds and other furniture with humans, and this should be avoided during an illness.
To date, there is no evidence of a dog being infected with H1N1, but commonsense measures should be taken with all pets to decrease the likelihood of potential virus transmission. That includes keeping pets out of the bedroom of anyone suffering from a flu-like illness and keeping them away from contaminated objects. Pet owners concerned about an animal who is exhibiting signs of illness after a human family member has suffered from influenza should contact their veterinarian. Potential symptoms could include lethargy or respiratory signs such as coughing, sneezing or difficulty breathing.
More good news: There is no evidence to date of any human being infected with influenza by a pet, or of infection being transmitted from one cat to another, or from a dog to a cat, or vice versa.

Louise Murray, DVM DACVIM, is director of medicine at the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital.