Originally published August 22 2005
Countries see increasing cases of cross-infection between pets and owners
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The superbug MRSA can be transferred between humans and pets and vice-versa in the U.S., Canada, Ireland and the UK.
Experts said it was possible people were infecting pets, and vice-versa, after reports of cases in recent years.
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has set up a committee to look at MRSA in pets and livestock.
Dogs, cats, a rabbit and a horse have all known to have had MRSA in the UK, while livestock in the US, Ireland and Canada have developed the superbug.
The first reports of MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureas) in animals came to light in 1972, but since 1999 there have been more frequent reports of animals having the superbug.
So far, all animals in the UK which have had it have had the strain of MRSA which is seen in hospitals, rather than the strain seen in the community.
A government committee of health experts was set up in January to look into the issue.
MRSA has been linked to up to 1,000 human deaths a year, but there has been a recent downward trend in the number of infections seen.
Dr Donald Morrison, of the Scottish MRSA Reference Laboratory, said his centre had received reports of pets developing MRSA and was helping the government research the issue.
"So far it seems to be a case of the patient passing it on to the pet, but there is no reason why it cannot be passed from pet to pet, and pet to human.
"However, it is too early to draw any firm conclusions, we need to look into this further.
"What is interesting that all the cases seem to be the hospital strain, which is very good at surviving and spreading.
"As for livestock, again it is possible."
However, he said it was very unlikely MRSA would be passed on to humans from drinking cows' milk or eating meat.
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