Health

A 'Highly Contagious' Dog Flu Has Re-emerged In The US

A virus that made over 1,000 dogs sick in Chicago has re-emerged — but it's probably not as that dangerous as you think.

A 'Highly Contagious' Dog Flu Has Re-emerged In The US
Getty Images / Brian Harkin
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"Dog flu" has resurfaced in the U.S. Officials traced the start of the new outbreak to dog shows in Georgia or Florida.

The H3N2 canine virus appeared in South Korea 10 years ago as an avian flu strain that later adapted to dogs.

The disease is considered "highly contagious." When H3N2 appeared in the U.S. in 2015, over 1,000 dogs in Chicago got the virus.

Medical professionals are worried because H3N2 is appearing in states that had no recorded cases, like Florida. And it's already spread to Kentucky and Tennessee.

Deadly Dog Flu, Known As H3N2, Spreads Beyond Midwest
Deadly Dog Flu, Known As H3N2, Spreads Beyond Midwest

Deadly Dog Flu, Known As H3N2, Spreads Beyond Midwest

The dog flu, also known as H3N2, that infected more than a thousand canines in Chicago, has spread throughout the country.

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But the disease isn't as dangerous as you'd think. Vaccines can help prevent H3N2, and the mortality rate of the disease is relatively low.