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|Articles|September 1, 2006

Canine flu revisited

Virtually all dogs become infected when exposed to canine influenza virus. Eighty percent of dogs show clinical signs of infection while 20 percent do not because they are subclinically infected, says Dr. Cynda Crawford, canine Influenza expert with the University of Florida. The best estimates of the mortality rate from canine influenza, is less than 10 percent. In a population of non-Greyhound dogs in Florida with a confirmed infection, it was 7 percent.

  • Virtually all dogs become infected when exposed to canine influenza virus. Eighty percent of dogs show clinical signs of infection while 20 percent do not because they are subclinically infected, says Dr. Cynda Crawford, canine Influenza expert with the University of Florida. The best estimates of the mortality rate from canine influenza, is less than 10 percent. In a population of non-Greyhound dogs in Florida with a confirmed infection, it was 7 percent.

  • Florida veterinarians were alerted in August 2005 when evidence was obtained the canine influenza virus was infecting non-Greyhound dogs as well as Greyhounds.

  • "We have not had a new virus enter the dog population in the United States since parvo virus in 1978," Crawford says. "The parallel between the two viruses is that canine influenza like parvo in 1978, is novel to our dog population and dogs do not have immunity so they are all susceptible to infection."

  • Pneumonia is a secondary complication that can occur in dogs after infection with the virus — this pneumonia is due to secondary bacterial infections not a virus mutation.

  • There is the potential for continual changes in the virus which is typical of all influenza viruses. However, there is no evidence that the canine influenza virus has mutated.

  • There are no confirmed cases in Hawaii.

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