[livingdustmops]

I am posting this not to alarm people but to remind you to never let your little one down on the floor in a vets office or if you go to a shelter to not bring your shoes into the house that you wore. I would be somewhat concerned if I went to dog parks also.

Dog Flu Confirmed
US/Pacific

Dog Flu Confirmed In San Francisco Puppy

Three Cases OF Dog Flu Confirmed Nationally

(CBS 5) DAVIS, Calif. One of three cases of highly contagious dog flu
confirmed by a lab at the University of California, Davis, was found in
a San Francisco puppy, veterinary researchers announced Friday.

A lab at UC Davis detected canine influenza virus in dogs from three
states using a new test that employs DNA technology to provide rapid,
accurate diagnosis of the highly contagious disease.

Since November, scientists have tested more than 100 samples from dogs
suspected of having canine influenza. All of the samples turned out to
be negative until Feb. 23, when the first of the three positive samples
was diagnosed.

That first case involved a fatal outbreak of disease in a Colorado
animal shelter. It was followed by a case in San Francisco, in which an imported puppy became ill but recovered, as did its household-mates.

The third case involved a fatal outbreak in a Florida animal shelter.
"There is no reason for dog owners to panic over the confirmation of
these cases," said Christian Leutenegger of the UC Davis School of
Veterinary Medicine. "Any dog that exhibits upper respiratory symptoms,
such as a persistent cough or nasal discharge, should be routinely
examined by a local veterinarian."

Dog flu is an upper respiratory disease, first reported in January 2004
in racing greyhounds at a Florida racetrack. To date, antibodies to canine influenza virus have been detected in dogs in animal shelters, adoption groups, pet stores, boarding kennels and veterinary clinics in 19 states.

Dogs can also catch the virus from saliva or mucus on shared toys or
food dishes.

There is no evidence that canine influenza can be passed to humans,
according to UC Davis researchers. Since the dog flu virus just emerging, dogs have no natural immunity to it, researchers say. They add that all dogs exposed will become infected, and roughly 80 percent of infected dogs will develop symptoms of the illness. About 5 to 8 percent of all infected dogs will die, according to UC Davis researchers.

There is currently no vaccine available for canine influenza.