WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW
Remember that in March of this year, Chicago-area veterinarians were noticing a significant increase in the amount of dogs presenting for respiratory disease.  Most dogs presented with coughing, runny nose and eyes and poor energy but a few presented with pneumonia.  Specimens from infected dogs were sent to Cornell University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory where it was uncovered that a new strain of Canine Influenza had been introduced into this country, probably from South Korea.  Strain H3N2 of the Canine Influenza virus was isolated, different form our standard H3N8 strain.  When we published our first blog on this topic in April, no H3N2-infected dog had yet been reported in Los Angeles county.

WHAT’S NEW?
On July 7, 2015, an adult Labrador mix dog was diagnosed with H3N2 in south Los Angeles county.  This dog presented to his veterinarian with a cough but no other signs.  He was treated with an antibiotic and is recovering well.  As of the publish date of this blog, no other cases have been reported in the county and there is no evidence of a larger outbreak.  This is the first confirmed case of Canine Influenza H3N2 in Los Angeles county.

HOW ABOUT HUMANS …AND CATS?
There are still no reports of this H3N2 causing illness in people.  The virus is able to infect and cause illness in cats, although this appears to be much less common than infection in dogs.

VACCINATION?
Currently there is no vaccination available specifically to prevent H3N2 infection.  There is a vaccine for the older H3N8 strain of Canine Influenza but it is still unclear how much the H3N8 vaccine will protect against H3N2.

BOTTOM LINE?
In Los Angeles county there have been no confirmed reports of H3N8 in dogs since 2011.  The Labrador mentioned here is the first H3N2 case reported in Los Angeles county.  Given these numbers and the uncertainty of protection against H3N2 with H3N8 vaccination, DTLAvets is not currently recommending empirical H3N8 vaccination for dogs.  However if there are humans in the home who are immunologically challenged, please schedule an appointment with us to discuss a strategy to help keep everyone in the home safe.

STOP THE SPREAD!
Meanwhile our recommendations remain the same.  Take your pet to your veterinarian if (s)he is acting sick.  Do not take your pet to public areas if (s)he is acting sick.  Soap and water are very effective at inactivating the virus.  Wash your hands after handling pets, which will help avoid the spread of disease among pets.  Always consult your veterinarian with any concerns regarding your pet’s health.

We continue to follow this epidemic closely and will keep you updated regarding any changes.