Canine flu has come to the united states... but there' s no reason to be alarmed

Although there are several infected dogs in 4 states across the country, there is no reason to believe that this can harm humans dangerously.

For years, the press has been attacked or criticized for sounding the alarm on issues that aren't as serious as the headlines are intended to signal. In recent weeks, it is true that cases of flu-infected dogs have jumped into the digital media and social networks in the United States, and many have wondered how humans might be affected. They didn't even know that their faithful friends could catch this disease so common in humans.

The truth is that there are two types of canine flu identified in the U. S., but the one that is currently affecting several dog breeds in 4 states of the country is H3N2, which was discovered in 2015. Fortunately, it can't be passed to humans, just as we can't pass the virus to animals either. As veterinarians point out, it is not unusual for a dog to catch the flu and present the same symptoms: fever, cough, watery eyes, even a runny nose. In the last month and a half, at least 70 dogs have tested positive in California, 22 in Kentucky and a few cases in Ohio and Michigan.

Although we don't have to worry about ourselves, the Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine points out that these localized cases can be dangerous among the canine community:"The virus can spread rapidly from dog to dog if they play together in a park, in the kennel or even attending the same dog show. If a healthy dog comes together with a group of dogs susceptible to the flu, transmission can be incredibly intense in that region,"warns Amy Glaser, director of the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell Center.

Still, if you are worried about your dog's condition, relax, because this type of canine flu is usually not deadly. In fact, the percentage is less than 10 %. However, it is necessary to keep a close eye on its evolution, because it can lead to a more serious illness, such as pneumonia (which could end your pet's life).