From Hodie - Page 1

 She asked that I post this on the PDB. I am more than happy to do so.

------ Forwarded Message
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promed.isid.harvard.edu>
Reply-To: <promedNOREPLY@promed.isid.harvard.edu>
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:45:50 -0400 (EDT)
To: <promed-ahead-edr@promedmail.org>
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Influenza, canine (H3N8) - USA

INFLUENZA, CANINE (H3N8) - USA
******************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Tue 18 Aug 2009
Source: Discovery News [edited]
<http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/08/18/dog-canine-virus.html>


Canine influenza, the potentially deadly H3N8 virus commonly known as
dog flu, is spreading. So far the virus has led to the death of one
dog last week [week of 10 Aug 2009], closed down the kennel at
Virginia's Fairfax County Animal Shelter, and, according to experts,
is now affecting dogs in at least 4 other states: Colorado, New York,
New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

While the reason for the shelter outbreak, which killed a 15-year-old
whippet owned by a clinical technician and sickened 26 dogs, remains
unknown, it's possible that one or more infected dogs from
Philadelphia or Washington DC introduced the illness to Virginia.

"Dogs often move in and out of shelter systems over long distances,
such as via breed and rescue groups," Edward Dubovi, director of the
virology center at Cornell's Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory,
told Discovery News.

"Boarding kennels and even elite doggie day care centers can also
result in cases, since, as for kennel cough spread, the virus is
highly contagious and dogs may catch it from one another," added
Dubovi.

He first isolated the canine influenza virus in 2004, after
University of Florida researchers sent him fluid and tissue samples
from greyhound race dogs that had died from a then mysterious
respiratory illness at a Florida racetrack.

Dubovi and his team determined the cause was the H3N8 equine flu
virus, which jumped from horses to dogs. In addition to spreading
from dog to dog, canines can also catch it from humans, who may have
come into contact with infected animals.

The illness has not yet sickened any people.

Signs in dogs can include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, and a
respiratory infection that may last a few weeks. One to 5 percent of
victims die from related hemorrhagic pneumonia.

Although 30 states have reported cases over the past 5 years, Dubovi
said outbreaks are "usually sporadic and then die out." "For example,
we've seen outbreaks in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh, but
those all ended," he explained.

As officials work to contain the Virginia cases, nearby states and
cities are also on guard.

Tara deNicolas, a spokesperson for the Washington Humane Society,
told Discovery News, "No cases are currently in our shelter." She
added, "We're being very proactive, however, and are ordering tests
whenever any possible symptoms surface."

Just last month [July 2009], a vaccine was released for canine
influenza. Dubovi said that, "in clinical trials, it reduces viral
shedding and diminishes signs" of the illness. It's given in 2 doses,
3 weeks apart.

Dubovi would like to see "blanket vaccinations in affected areas, as
it would be nice to get this

tell hodie we miss her and her knowledge and would love to have her back.

Thank you Mystere and Hodie

It was first noticed in 1997 in wild duck populations - a subtype of the Influenza a virus

I did a quick check and this virus is all over the place.....phoenix, florida, virgina,

Hey Mystere,
Two years ago I boarded my dogs at a kennel in VA.  Both dogs came down with what I believe to "canine Influenza".  My male had severe hemorrhagic pneumonia.  Two different vets diagnosed it as rat poisoning and put the dog on Vit K.  I did a search warrant for our Animal control unit and spoke with them afterward and they described a similar thing going through their facility.  I went back to they vet and had different antibiotics prescribed and it took about a month to totally clear up. 

Scary stuff, especially with the misdiagnosis.  Tell Hodie thanks for forwarding this, and thank you for posting it.  People really need to be aware of it.

Jim

Wow!  Scary but sure good to hear from Hodie!  Tell her thank you and thanks to you for posting it for us.

YIKES ! THANKS TO HODIE FOR PASSING THE INFO ON ..

Thanks Mystere, please pass on my gratitude to Hodie as well, and let her know I too really miss her here.  Let her know if she would ever considering coming back, we need her now, more than ever!

Thank you for the information!  I will let folks in this area know that it may have started in the eastern part of the state.  I'll pass it on to the training clubs in this area and also be cautious about where I take my dog!  Tell Hodie she is missed terribly but at least it's nice to know she still thinks of us, please let her know I send warm regards :o)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canine_influenza

http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/aug09/090801c.asp

http://www.examiner.com/x-12346-Nashville-Dogs-Examiner~y2009m8d19-Dog-park-dangers-Canine-Flu-spreading

Canine influenza or dog flu is influenza occurring in canines. Canine influenza is caused by varieties of Influenzavirus A, such as equine influenza virus H3N8, which in 2004 was discovered to cause disease in dogs. Because of the lack of previous exposure to this virus, dogs have no natural immunity to this virus. Therefore, the disease is rapidly transmitted between individual dogs. Canine influenza may be endemic in some regional dog populations of the United States. It is a disease with a high morbidity but a low mortality (lots of dog will get it and few will die).


Lets get this information out to all the people we know that has dogs, not just on this board.