Cases of canine influenza increase in Minnesota
Canine influenza is suspected of infecting nearly 300 dogs in Minnesota since April, when the outbreak of the highly contagious virus was first reported. It's the largest canine disease outbreak in decades. "For dog disease in Minnesota, it's the biggest news for the past 40 years at least," observed Graham Brayshaw, director of veterinarian medicine at the Animal Humane Society. The state Board of Animal Health has encouraged dog owners to talk to their vets about the canine influenza vaccine to protect their pups and stop the spread, but there's still a widespread shortage of shots in the state and nationwide, though supply has increased. A canine influenza vaccine clinic at the Animal Humane Society sold out immediately last month. The outbreak began in Minnesota when the Humane Society reported that a dog transported from Oklahoma had infected all of its 200 dogs. The nonprofit shut down its three shelters in Golden Valley, Woodbury and Coon Rapids and paused all pet adoptions until May, making it the Humane Society's longest closure due to an animal-related outbreak. Since then, Brayshaw said, the Humane Society has had zero cases of canine flu. "We've doubled down the best we can to make sure we're not importing anything that's contagious," he said.
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