Dog flu can be added to New York City's list of concerns.
The U.S. has been in the grip of canine influenza and now it appears to have made it to Brooklyn, with at least 14 dogs testing positive to the H3N2 strain, WNYW Fox5NY.com reported.
Earlier this year, reports began to emerge of an outbreak spreading to 46 states, with more than 2,000 dogs picking up the canine flu since 2005.
News reports sent pet owners scrambling to the vet, but the frenzy appeared to have died down. Now, as weather warms up and dogs spend more time outside, they are more susceptible to pick up the viral infection.
At the heart of the outbreak are two strains identified in the U.S. as H3N8 and H3N2. Common symptoms include lack of appetite, lethargy, cough and fever, and the highly contagious infection can be spread through coughing, sneezing and even barking if pets are in close proximity of an infected animal.
Dr. Yasmine Mortsakis, who runs New York Veterinary Practice, said the outbreak was likely not going to go anywhere fast.
"There were a lot of cases this year, close to 500 in California and Nevada already, so it was just a matter of time before it got here," she said, according to Fox5.
The good news however, is that pet owners can vaccinate their pets against the flu and, if your pup has picked up the illness, the likelihood of it dying is not that high, provided you get the right medical treatment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends dog owners take their pets to the vet as soon as they suspect canine influenza.
In the milder form of the disease, medication may be given to the dog and a broad-spectrum antibiotic will be prescribed if a secondary bacterial infection is suspected.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.