Making our Squirrels Sick ?????

[stosh2010]

Can our squirrels catch a virus --or flu--from our handling or breathing on them--or prepping their food???
Please advise what precautions we should take.
Ramamama is in bed for days and now I am developing a dry cough.
We do not want --TO SHARE
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I also posted this on two threads--Rama & Luna___and did get one reply (thanks cava)
But I would appreciate multiple input...as we are going into flu and cold season--and keeping our little friends healthy --is # 1.
Thanks

[MyBushyTail]

I do not think squirrels can catch illness from us. Over the past 17 years none of my pet squirrels have ever caught anything from me while I was sick. For the last month and a half I had a terrible flu/virus (mucus, cough, sore throat, runny nose) that finally has broken and is almost all the way cleared up. Angel is with me almost 24/7; he is/has been just fine throughout my flu/virus, I handle/handled him hundreds of times daily and he is a big time lips kisser.

[stosh2010]

I do not think squirrels can catch illness from us. Over the past 17 years none of my pet squirrels have ever caught anything from me while I was sick. For the last month and a half I had a terrible flu/virus (mucus, cough, sore throat, runny nose) that finally has broken and is almost all the way cleared up. Angel is with me almost 24/7; he is/has been just fine throughout my flu/virus, I handle/handled him hundreds of times daily and he is a big time lips kisser.

Thanks for sharing YOUR experience....
Hoping to hear from many others--to get a large profile....

[island rehabber]

I can remember many spring colds where I sneezed and sniffled over soooo many baby squirrels; nobody ever got sick. I do not believe that there are many rodent - to - human crossover diseases, to be honest.

[stosh2010]

I can remember many spring colds where I sneezed and sniffled over soooo many baby squirrels; nobody ever got sick. I do not believe that there are many rodent - to - human crossover diseases, to be honest.

Good to hear--CAUTION and hand washing --still a recommendation.... !!!


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[TubeDriver]

Anything is possibly but most human colds and influenza type virus will probably not infect squirrels. Still, it is always a good idea to practice frequent hand washing before and after handling animals and try to not sneeze on your squirrel, they might find that rude!:grin2

[island rehabber]

You're wise to become real Lady Macbeths about hand-washing, stosh and Rama Mama, since you do live in a warm humid climate and bugs love that. I truly think the crew will be fine, though. :grouphug

[Diggie's Friend]

On the more serious health issues that are spread from rodents to man, the CDC has listed them with the information on how they spread.

After you click on the group listing, click on individual listing to expand the files. https://www.cdc.gov/rodents/diseases/index.html

[Diggie's Friend]

On whether squirrels can get virus etc from humans (zooanthroponosis) aka: reverse zoonosis,
I would look through this file which contains globally collected data on reported occurances of various diseases transmitted by humans to specific animals.

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0089055&type=printable

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0089055