ATLANTA, Ga. -- New numbers show dog flu is rapidly spreading across the metro-area.
The University Of Georgia's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirms more than 80 cases in every corner of the metro. Including a whopping 49 in Fulton County, by far the most in the state.
Out of the 293 cases tested at the lab for canine influenza, 88 have come back positive and five more are suspected.
Dr. Duffy Jones with Peachtree Hills Animal Hospital says this is a dog flu unlike anything we've seen in a while.
"This flu is much more contagious. It came from Chicago and it's the same kind of epidemic that they dealt with up there," said Jones.
The dog flu killed animals in Chicago. Thankfully, that hasn't happened here.
But dog owners should still be on high-alert because the disease can spread so quickly.
"Because this is so contagious, the hardest things is anytime there are a lot of dogs together, your chance of having this and spreading this goes up," Jones said.
Which is why Henry County took the proactive steps to close down the two county dogs parks earlier this week. Other counties and cities are taking steps to warn dog owners of the risk of flu.
Just like you would keep your child away from other sick kids, Dr. Jones says the same advice works for dogs.
"What you want to look for is coughing and sneezing," Jones said. "These dogs look like you or I do when we have the flu. They look sick. If you see that we want to get them treated right away."
article origin
http://www.13wmaz.com/story/news/local/georgia/2015/07/15/dog-flu-continues-to-impact-metro-atlanta/30222153/
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