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Chris H. was kind enough to forward a letter from her vet with Parkwood Animal Hospital of Friendswood, Texas. The letter announced a dog from Beach City, Texas tested positive for Canine Influenza the week of May 7. The Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services (HSPHES) was notified about the test results and the dog’s owner had moved from Chicago. Beach City is about 41 miles east of Houston.
What is the low down on this flu? The biggest danger from what I understand is that both strains of the virus in dogs is very contagious but the Chicago virus (H3N2) is like H3N8 on steroids. It moves faster and hits much harder with fever and the addition of secondary infections coming into play. Either virus presents itself initially as a cold until the owner realizes the dog needs to see a veterinarian. The actual incubation period for the Chicago virus (H3N2) virus is only a couple of days. By that time multiple other dogs may have been exposed while the more severely infected dog has developed the growing secondary infections associated with serious respiratory infections and has become much sicker. We are more familiar with Kennel cough and may not realize the seriousness and the speed and severity that this virus moves. The Chicago virus (H3N2) makes the dog very sick quickly. Should you take your dog in to be vaccinated? Will the H3N8 vaccine work? Is there any indication of it being required? Where and when did all this canine flu come from? Horses. It crossed species from an equine flu known as Type A H3N8 Virus. The virus in horses has been around for the past 40 years. In 2004 a dog version was confirmed and known as H3N8 /Canine Influenza Virus (CIV). It is now in 38 states including Texas and abroad. It was first found in Florida at the racetracks in greyhounds. By 2009 a vaccination was created for the H3N8 that may or may not be effective against a more recent second strain of CIV: H3N2, the flu outbreak in Chicago. A second strain known has H3N2 was only abroad in Asia, specifically Korea, China and Thailand until April 2015. Largely as a result of boarding dogs over the Easter weekend (April 5) more than 1100 dogs were first diagnosed with H3N2 in Chicago less than 6 weeks ago. As of April 15, six dogs have passed away. So far the virus has been identified in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin and now Texas (week of May 5). Chicago veterinarians report that H3N2 is more virulent than H3N8 and moves faster with fever. Normally dogs do not pass away with H3N8. There was no mention regarding how H3N2 moved from Asia to Chicago. This virus can be passed to other dogs up to 20 feet away. The dog strain of H3N2 is not transmitted to humans but humans can transmit by touching an infected dog, etc. and then their own dog. H3N2 has also been found in cats only in Asia but this article is concentrating on recent information regarding dogs, specifically. The fatality rate with H3N2 is about 3%. CIV CIV is an upper respiratory infection derived from Type A influenza. There are two strains of CIV: H3N8 (older) and H3N2 (almost immediate and more aggressive with higher fever). Both are very contagious and have a runny nose and cough but the mild goes away in 10 -30 days. All dogs exposed to CIV are infected and about 80% develop symptoms. More than 80% of the infected have the milder version. The severe affects less than 10 % of the infected and the mortality rate is about 3% for CIV. The more severe symptoms move immediately and include a high fever, trouble breathing, bloody cough, sneezing, anorexia, runny nose and sickliness/discomfort. It becomes extremely serious when other secondary issues develop such as bacterial pneumonia, etc. Comparing Kennel Cough and CIV Kennel Cough (KC) and CIV can occur anytime during the year and both are very contagious. They share similar symptoms. CIV and KC are both bacterial and viral. Initially they are spread by contact via infected dogs, crowded areas, airborne contaminates such as a sneeze or cough, unclean objects such as cages, clothing, and unsanitary practices. They both have mild and severe symptoms except KC coughing sounds more like a goose honking than a dog and the cough last a shorter time than up to the 21 days with CIV. Kennel cough was identified more than 40 years ago where CIV was identified in 2004. KC is from multiple sources where CIV is from the equine Type A H3N8. H3N8 is also a designation for the flu carried by birds and mammals. About 25% of dogs with CIV and KC do not show any signs of infection while being very contagious. The incubation period for CIV is a couple of days where KC has up to a two week incubation period. Symptoms H3N2 & 8: cough, fever, nasal secretions, sneezing, rapid or difficult breathing, loss of appetite, lethargy, anorexia and discomfort. With H3N2 a higher fever moves rapidly and there can be a bloody cough and other symptoms present themselves quickly and more intensely. The symptoms last longer than 2 days and one of the most serious threats is the development of secondary infections such as bacterial pneumonia with dehydration requiring antibiotics. Pneumonia is what changes this into a serious illness. It is very contagious before it is usually diagnosed. Puppies and older dogs are especially susceptible to these dangers. Treatment Isolate your dog. With a blood test your vet can confirm whether your dog has CIV. It will probably be 4-6 months before a vaccine for H3N2 will be available. The H3N8 vaccination comes with a booster 2 weeks later and is not fully effective until after the booster has been given. The vaccination can possibly lessen H3N2 symptoms, shorten the length of time contagious, and possibly avoid the infection altogether. Note: This vaccination may be less effective or do nothing against H3N2. It is still a developing issue. There is no ‘cure’ after exposure for a virus, of course, but your dog can be given supportive care until the virus is gone. Please isolate your pet if you think he/she may have CIV. Talk with your veterinarian. Ask where to wait with your dog. Avoid crowded waiting areas or wait in your car. I recently spoke with my veterinarian, Dr. Pipes of Garland. He recommended getting the vaccine (H3N8) with the thought that it may lessen some of the effects of the H3N2 virus. It is not a quick option but a two part vaccine with a booster shot 2 weeks later. H3N2 is in Texas at this time. Best ways to avoid CIV: isolation, cleanliness, wash hands, disinfect, change & washing of clothes and avoid high risk places such as the vet’s or other high risk areas such as the groomers*, veterinarian office, doggy day care or other crowded places where there may be several dogs gathered. Do not wait in the waiting room of your veterinarian’s office if you believe your pet is infected. If there is not a room where you wait then wait in your car. Disinfect/wash your car your clothes, leash, kennel, dog bedding, etc. Summer boarding can present problems. Talk to your boarding facility director about what means they are instituting to combat this virus and talk with your veterinarian with any questions. Best Wishes, Lea R. I offer no medical advice or medical recommendations. This article is intended only for a beginning point to learn more about the canine flu H3N2 which recent hit the Houston area. Footnote: Just to confuse the daylights out of you, in the research I came across this headline: CDC predicts the H3N2 virus will hit East Texas. [For humans] Dated 9/4/14. So, look carefully at what comes up about H3N2 if you look further into this. Check the date & if it’s humans or what. http://www.ktre.com/story/26453987/cdc-predicts-the-h3n2-virus-will-hit-east-texas
References:
If you have too much time on your hands and happened to wonder what happened between H3N8 and H3N2 here is a quick glimpse of what I found: H3N1. Posted Oct. 15, 2014. H3N1 influenza strains recently seen in U.S. swine could pose risks for people and pigs, according to federal animal health authorities. https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/ Pages/141101q.aspx H3N2 A deadly dog flu is almost certain to make it to Ohio, according to local veterinarian Dr. Daniel Brauer of Dayton South Veterinary Clinic. When asked to rate on a scale from 1 to 10, his concern about H3N2, Dr. Brauer said, 12.”More than 1,000 dogs in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Georgia have been diagnosed with the canine flu strain. Six dogs have died after symptoms of a cough, runny nose and eyes, and fatigue. One piece of good news, said Brauer, is that dogs who’ve been vaccinated for the H3N8 influenza, seem to have built up an immunity to the deadly strain of H3N2. http://www.whio.com/news/news/local/deadly-dog-flu-h3n2-likely-to-hit- ohio/nkwnh/ H3N2V Influenza viruses that normally circulate in pigs are called “variant” viruses when they are found in people. Influenza A H3N2 variant viruses (also known as “H3N2v” viruses) with the matrix (M) gene from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus were first detected in people in July 2011. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/h3n2v-cases.htm H3N4 Avian Influenza Vaccine, H3n4 Subtype http://www.drugs.com/vet/avian-influenza-vaccine-h3n4-subtype-killed-virus-can.html H3N5. Fresno Dentist dies of H3N5 (Jan. 31m 2014) ‘a relatively new flu strain’ https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/united-states/seasonal-flu-2009-2014-including- h1n1-pandemic-2009-aj/california-ab/159376-fresno-dentist-dies-of-h3n5-flu [I didn’t know there was a Flu Trackers!] H3N6 Genomic analysis demonstrated that this H3N6 virus is a novel reassortant avian influenza virus with a gene constellation originating from multiple ancestors. http://genomea.asm.org/content/1/3/e00250-13.full H3N7 [Duck Flu] A/mallard/New Brunswick/00593/2010(H3N7) - Influenza ... www.fludb.org/.../fluStrainDetails.spg?.../20... H3N8 Canine Influenza (H3N8)The spring 2015 Chicago-based outbreak of canine influenza is a strain called H3N2, whereas this article is about a milder strain called H3N8. The vaccine for H3N8 is not thought to be effective against H3N2, which can cause a more severe case of influenza. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2165&S=0&EVetID=3001644
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