H3N2 Dog Flu Confirmed In Florida

TALLAHASSEE, FL — While the H3N2 canine influenza virus has plagued critters in other parts of the country since 2015, Florida has never confirmed a case. That changed Tuesday with the announcement that seven dogs have tested positive for the virus with six more cases pending.

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the cases were confirmed by the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. It is unclear what parts of the state the affected dogs are from.

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H3N2, also known as the “dog flu,” is a respiratory infection. It may cause canines to suffer from fevers, decreased appetites, coughing, sneezing, runny noses and lethargy. Most dogs recover at home without complications, but the state said some animals do require hospitalization. The infection can last two weeks or more.

H3N2 “is a highly contagious virus,” a Tuesday statement from the department said. No evidence has been found, however, that indicates the virus is capable of infecting people. While H3N2 can make dogs very sick, the state reports the mortality rate associated with it is low.

Pet owners are urged to get their dogs vaccinated against canine influenza viruses. Should symptoms appear, the state recommends owners call their vets before taking them into a clinic “in order to decrease the chances of spreading the virus to other animals at the clinic.”

The illness is spread by direct contact with sick dogs and when dogs come into contact with people or an environment that has been contaminated by the virus.

“The virus can survive in the environment (kennel surfaces, food/water bowls, collars/ leashes, toys, beds) or on people’s clothing and hands for 12 to 24 hours before it dies,” the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine reports on its website. “It is easily killed by handwashing with soap and water, normal laundering of clothing and bedding, and washing food/water bowls and toys with soap and water.”

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the outbreak of N3N2 virus began in Chicago in 2015 and is “believed to have resulted from the direct transfer of an avian influenza virus – possibly from among viruses circulating in live bird markets – to dogs." Since the first reported case in March 2015, “thousands of dogs have been confirmed positive for H3N2 canine influenza across the U.S.”

For more information about H3N2 virus, visit the University of Florida online.

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