Think you've got problems?

Imagine being an anteater with a stuffed up nose.

One of the things I love about my job are the odd bits of data that come across the desk. Anteaters get the flu, complete with upper respiratory problems like nasal congestion. And not only do they get the flu, it's the same flu humans get.

How do we know that, you may ask? The researchers ran DNA tests on viruses they found in anteater snot.

As for why this matters -- giant anteaters are considered a threatened species, no one knew they could get influenza, and for sure no one realized they could catch it from humans.