Canine Influenza (CIV) H3N2 Virus Soars, Dog Owners In Los Angeles Asked To Report To Department Of Health

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JAKARTA - It was reported that there was an increase in cases, the Department of Public Health of the Los Angeles Region, United States, asked dog owners to report immediately if they had dog flu, and leptospirosis.

Dr. Karen Ehnert, director of veterinary public health at the department, said the spike in cases was abnormal.

“The recent spike in such cases is unnatural. I worked here for 21 years," said Ehnert quoting Antara, Sunday, September 19.

"This is the first time we have had such a major outbreak." he said.

More than 200 cases of dog flu and 119 cases of leptospirosis were reported so far this September.

Local authorities said the figure had more than doubled in August when they announced an early warning of the outbreak.

The largest outbreak of canine flu, or CIV H3N2, began to be reported in the US's most populous region in mid-July.

Canine influenza is like the flu in dogs and is only contagious in dogs. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that is spread through the urine of infected animals and can be transmitted to humans.

Both can cause a dog to experience mild to severe illness, even death.

In a statement released by the authorities on Wednesday, officials urged dog owners to exercise caution when taking their dogs to the park or "to the dog salon" before being injected with the vaccine.

They were also asked to keep their dogs at home if their pets showed symptoms such as vomiting or seemed lethargic.