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New H3N8 Canine influenza spreading: the H1N1 flu of dogs
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 9:00pm
By Beth Jett and photojournalist Adam Jagunich, FOX 21 News
DULUTH - We've all heard of H1N1 swine flu by now, but have you ever heard of H3N8? It's a new strain of canine influenza virus that's affecting dogs similarly as H1N1 affects humans. The good news is there's a new vaccine to treat it.
As humans line up for shots to ward off the fast?moving swine flu, there's another kind of flu moving through the country, targeting dogs.
FOX 21 asked Dr. Justin Dahl: 'Would you say this is dogs' version of the swine flu?' "Yeah," Dahl said. "Fairly similar." Dahl is a veterinarian at Grand Avenue Veterinary Clinic. He's referring to a new strain of canine influenza virus that was first discovered in greyhounds in Florida in 2004, and is now confirmed in at least 30 states, with nearly 1,100 cases.
"It hasn't been discovered in Minnesota, yet," Dahl said. "There are three cases in the Twin Cities that they're trying to confirm."
It has been confirmed next door in Wisconsin. It's easily transmittable through the air or on contaminated surfaces and the symptoms would make any dog howl. "The runny, snotty nose, very mild cough--something someone might mistake for bordatella or kennel cough--all the way up to running a fever, I'm very sluggish, I'm not eating, full blown pneumonia," said Dahl.
Given the fast?growing prevalence of the H3N8 virus, a company developed a vaccine for it and released it four months ago. Already its worked in more than 700 animals across the country. Intervet/Schering?
Plough Animal Health made the vaccine with a killed virus. Dahl said it's a preventative for dogs six weeks or older, administered through two shots given two to four weeks apart.
So who's susceptible to H3N8? Experts say 80 % of dogs will catch it, especially if they frequent dog parks, pet stores, or boarding kennels.
"There are dogs who have died from this," said Dahl. "The biggest issue is just how fast it happens and that you can get much more severe symptoms and issues and that it can be fatal."
Unlike human flu, H3N8 is not seasonal, so dogs are vulnerable year?round, but so far, there is no shortage of the vaccine.
Consumers can get the vaccine only through veterinarians and shelters.
Furthermore, there have been a handful of reports of animals contracting H1N1 swine flu from people, including a pig at the Minnesota State Fair.
The new vaccine we just told you about would not treat H1N1.
Researchers would have to come up with a separate vaccine for that.
http://fox21online.com/animaltales/new-h3n8-canine-influenza-spreading-h1n1-flu-dogs
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 9:00pm
By Beth Jett and photojournalist Adam Jagunich, FOX 21 News
DULUTH - We've all heard of H1N1 swine flu by now, but have you ever heard of H3N8? It's a new strain of canine influenza virus that's affecting dogs similarly as H1N1 affects humans. The good news is there's a new vaccine to treat it.
As humans line up for shots to ward off the fast?moving swine flu, there's another kind of flu moving through the country, targeting dogs.
FOX 21 asked Dr. Justin Dahl: 'Would you say this is dogs' version of the swine flu?' "Yeah," Dahl said. "Fairly similar." Dahl is a veterinarian at Grand Avenue Veterinary Clinic. He's referring to a new strain of canine influenza virus that was first discovered in greyhounds in Florida in 2004, and is now confirmed in at least 30 states, with nearly 1,100 cases.
"It hasn't been discovered in Minnesota, yet," Dahl said. "There are three cases in the Twin Cities that they're trying to confirm."
It has been confirmed next door in Wisconsin. It's easily transmittable through the air or on contaminated surfaces and the symptoms would make any dog howl. "The runny, snotty nose, very mild cough--something someone might mistake for bordatella or kennel cough--all the way up to running a fever, I'm very sluggish, I'm not eating, full blown pneumonia," said Dahl.
Given the fast?growing prevalence of the H3N8 virus, a company developed a vaccine for it and released it four months ago. Already its worked in more than 700 animals across the country. Intervet/Schering?
Plough Animal Health made the vaccine with a killed virus. Dahl said it's a preventative for dogs six weeks or older, administered through two shots given two to four weeks apart.
So who's susceptible to H3N8? Experts say 80 % of dogs will catch it, especially if they frequent dog parks, pet stores, or boarding kennels.
"There are dogs who have died from this," said Dahl. "The biggest issue is just how fast it happens and that you can get much more severe symptoms and issues and that it can be fatal."
Unlike human flu, H3N8 is not seasonal, so dogs are vulnerable year?round, but so far, there is no shortage of the vaccine.
Consumers can get the vaccine only through veterinarians and shelters.
Furthermore, there have been a handful of reports of animals contracting H1N1 swine flu from people, including a pig at the Minnesota State Fair.
The new vaccine we just told you about would not treat H1N1.
Researchers would have to come up with a separate vaccine for that.
http://fox21online.com/animaltales/new-h3n8-canine-influenza-spreading-h1n1-flu-dogs