- Three dogs have died and 57 others have respiratory infections
- Dog flu is highly contagious and spreads through barking and sneezing
- READ MORE: CDC warns of new ‘triple epidemic’ this winter
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A North Carolina animal shelter has gone into lockdown after several dogs died of canine flu.
Three dogs have died, forcing the Wake County Animal Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, to close for at least 35 days on Friday to contain the outbreak.
As of Thursday, about 57 dogs had upper respiratory infections, which the shelter said is unusually high.
Canine flu does not spread to humans, meaning shelter staff can continue to care for the 449 animals. No cases of dog-to-human flu have ever been reported.
Jennifer Federico, a veterinarian who runs the animal shelter, said: ‘Unfortunately this has spread quickly. Most dogs are not immune to it. It’s not something that many people vaccinate against.’
Layla, one of the dogs in the shelter, which is now in lockdown. It is not known whether Layla has been affected by the canine flu outbreak.
The virus is highly contagious and almost all dogs exposed to it become ill.
Enclosed spaces such as animal shelters are breeding grounds for viruses because animals are often kept close together.
Dogs infected with the flu can experience anything from no symptoms at all to secondary infections, which can lead to pneumonia and even death.
The symptoms generally mirror those of kennel cough, a highly contagious bacterial lung infection that is fortunately rarely dangerous.
Both kennel cough and dog flu can cause cough, runny nose, fever, lethargy, eye discharge and loss of appetite.
But because it is a virus, it is more difficult to treat than a bacterial infection, which can be cleared up with antibiotics.
Dog flu can also linger on surfaces that have come into contact with your dog.
The virus spreads through droplets in the air when dogs sneeze, cough or bark. It can also be transmitted through contaminated objects such as kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes.
Most dogs will get better within two to three weeks, but about one in ten cases will result in death.
A vaccine is available to ward off canine flu and recommended for dogs that frequently interact with other dogs.
However, shortages of the shot have been an obstacle for pet owners in the past.