HEALTH - Canine Flu H3N2 Discovered in Florida

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The H3N2 flu virus, which first struck the US in 2015, has spread to Florida with the initial cases discovered in late May.

The dogs testing positive were either at a Perry, Georgia, dog show from May 19 to 21 or the Deland, Florida, dog show the next weekend — or were exposed to dogs that had been at those shows.

University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine officials hope to create “community immunity” and as such are encouraging dog owners to vaccinate their pets to prevent the spread of the virus.

“The more dogs in the community that we can vaccinate and build up community immunity, the better chance we have at keeping this virus out of the community,” Dr. Cynda Crawford, an assistant professor of shelter medicine at the college, said at a press conference.

“It’s all about using vaccines to build a wall, an immune barrier, in the community that will stop the virus from entering. Vaccination is still the primary tool we have.”

The virus was present in about 30 other states before appearing in Florida.

“This is a highly contagious virus to dogs, just like influenza virus is to people,” Crawford said. “There is an eminent threat for dogs to be exposed to this virus in this state now.”

The H3N2 canine influenza virus is an avian flu virus that adapted to infect dogs and is different from human seasonal H3N2 viruses.

Canine influenza H3N2 virus was first detected in dogs in South Korea in 2007.

According to the AVMA, Canine influenza is spread via aerosolized respiratory secretions (via coughing, barking and sneezing) and contaminated objects (kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes) and people moving between infected and uninfected dogs.

The signs of this illness in dogs are cough, runny nose, and fever, but not all dogs will show signs of illness.

The severity of illness associated with canine flu in dogs can range from no signs to severe illness resulting in pneumonia and sometimes death.

While death is not common, it is important for owners with dogs exhibiting symptoms to seek veterinary treatment to prevent issues like pneumonia.

HEALTH - First Rabies Case in Waterloo Region of Ontario

Despite a decrease in rabies cases reported in on Ontario this year, the rabies outbreak has made its way to Waterloo Region.

There were 288 cases of rabies confirmed in the province in 2016, with the majority reported in and around the Hamilton area.

Last week Waterloo Public Health announced the first case discovered in that region since the outbreak began at the end of 2015.

The provincial government has already launched their rabies control operations for this year which included helicopter baiting in Huron and Perth Counties in April.

Going forward, plans include helicopter, twin otter and hand baiting from July through September.

Baits are dropped for foxes, raccoons and skunks to eat in areas where rabies has been detected in wildlife in the current or previous year.

The bait is a small packet filled with the rabies vaccine that is absorbed through the lining of the mouth.

Animals are immunized against rabies about 2 weeks after they either chew or swallow the rabies vaccine bait.

To protect your family and your pets from rabies:

• Keep pets up-to-date with their rabies vaccination. In Ontario, it’s the law that all cats and dogs over three months of age be vaccinated against rabies
• Teach children to stay away from wild animals, dogs and cats they don’t know or animals that are acting strangely. A strange acting animal could be a sign that it is sick
• Talk to your veterinarian about vaccinating your livestock against rabies
• Keep pets away from wildlife. Don’t let your pets run free in the neighborhood and keep them indoors at night
• Don’t feed, transport or relocate wildlife.

To help pet owners Bridletown Warden Animal Hospital has been hosting low cost rabies/microchip clinics which will continue into June.

Visit Urban Animal Corporation’s website for complete clinic details, dates, locations and contact information.

HEALTH - At-Home Treatment for Canine Parvovirus

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Every spring veterinarians see cases of parvovirus in dogs.

In fact, the Calgary Humane Society recently closed their doors temporarily for an intense shelter cleaning when a pair of dogs came into the shelter infected with the disease.

Pet owners with sick dogs are faced with hospitalization of their pet - inpatient care that can cost thousands of dollars.

For the longest time, the only other option for those unable to afford the treatment was euthanasia.

Fortunately, a study at Colorado Springs University (CSU) tested in-home treatment for pups suffering from the disease with positive results, providing a cheaper option for dog owners.

Hospitalization will always be the gold standard of care and the Colorado study demonstrated a 90% recovery rate.

The subjects that received intensive at-home care, which cost approximately $300, had a recovery rate of 80%.

The at-home treatment relies on two drugs from Pfizer Animal Health (which funded the CSU parvovirus study): Maropitant, a strong anti-nausea medication given under the skin once a day; and Convenia, an antibiotic given under the skin once, and lasting two weeks; as well as administration of fluids under the skin three times daily.

"Rather than being hospitalized, our research shows that puppies can be successfully treated with a protocol that can be replicated at home," said Dr. Lauren Sullivan, who conducted the research in 2012.

A total of 40 dogs were admitted to the study group, randomized to one group that received traditional gold standard care and one group that received the at-home protocol.

"What we showed was that it is possible to treat dogs with parvovirus on an outpatient basis,” said Sullivan.

“If owners have the willingness to provide care at home, it’s a reasonable alternative. It’s not ideal and we still recommend inpatient care, but having this protocol as an option could help save the lives of thousands of dogs across the United States every year."

Puppies must meet criteria to be good candidates for being treated at home, such as being relatively stable cardiovascularly and able to tolerate injections.

The at-home treatment protocol is available on the CSU website.

Canine parvovirus can be prevented through vaccination and limiting puppy socialization until the vaccination cycle is completed.

HEALTH - Low Cost Rabies/Microchip Clinics Kickoff this Weekend in Ontario

With raccoon strain rabies in the community after a ten year absence, including two cats infected with it, rabies vaccination for Ontario pets is more important than ever.

Starting this weekend, low cost rabies and microchip clinics will be taking place in the province for those concerned about the cost of the injection.

Dr. Jeff Rabinovich of Bridletowne Warden Animal Hospital is once again offering the clinics - 23 this year - in partnership with Urban Animal Corporation, and hosted by Pet Valu and PetSmart stores.

The cost is just $25 per rabies vaccine, $25 per microchip, or $50 for both including HST (cash only).

Every participant will receive a lifetime subscription on HomeSafeTM, a global cloud-based registration and recovery service, courtesy of Urban Animal Corporation and Rabinovich.

HomeSafeTM provides the only on-line automated recovery system that allows all members of the community to post their own lost and found reports.

It facilitates instant sharing of pet information among the general public and organizations in the community, and across North America when a pet goes missing.

With an increase in clinics in 2017, organizers are confident more animals than ever before will be protected from disease and better insured of a return home if they get lost.

This weekend first-come, first-serve clinics will be held in Brockville, Waterloo and Kitchener.

Visit Urban Animal Corporation’s website for complete details, dates, locations and contact information.

HEALTH - Globalization and Disease: It's Always the Rats on the Ship

Wherever humans travel, we bring diseases with us and then leave them behind as parting gifts, often carrying new diseases back home in trade.

European colonizers infamously brought smallpox and other deadly diseases around the world with them (sometimes even using germs intentionally during warfare).

Europe itself was ravaged by the bubonic plague when humans provided transport to rodents and fleas from Asia, and that disease had a long history of hitching a ride with human travelers.

Asia and the Middle East had suffered multiple outbreaks before it arrived in Europe.

The global spread of disease has not stopped, despite efforts to mitigate the risk.

Air travel has introduced a new method of disease transport and mosquitoes on international flights have brought malaria to previously uninfected countries.

But just because airplanes provide a new way for diseases to spread doesn’t mean ships have lost their relevance when it comes to the global migration of diseases.

Rat lungworm disease is caused by a parasitic worm that, when introduced to humans, invades the human brain.

It is spread primarily through rats that travel on cargo ships.

Once in the brain, the parasite causes bleeding, swelling, and even death. ­­­­The worm is carried by rats, and also found in slugs and snails.

The disease was first recorded in humans in Taiwan in 1944, and it has been present in Asia and the Caribbean since then.

Recently, though, it’s become endemic in the United States, showing up in Hawai’i, California, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, and along the Gulf Coast.

A 2013 study found that the geographical distribution of the disease had changed significantly over the course of a few decades.

There have been nine confirmed cases of rat lungworm disease in Hawai’i in 2017, as of April 12. There are also four suspected cases being explored currently.

These numbers may be low, though, because in other parts of the United States where the disease is present but less common, doctors may not be watching for it.

And, even if they were watching, there is no simple blood test.

Rat lungworm disease is not an epidemic, and may not become one in the near future.

Humans are not ­the target of the parasite, and when a human is infected it is just as catastrophic for the worm as it is for the human – there is not currently a way for the worm to get back out of the brain once it crosses the blood-brain barrier, and the parasite dies inside the human.

However, rat lungworm disease has proven itself to be highly adaptable, and a 2015 study found that the parasite was able to find new viable hosts that allow it to spread to new geographical locations.

Although Hawai’i has seen a significant spike in infections among humans, the numbers remain low.

However, the fact that the disease is continuing to spread and is proving to be persistent even in areas thought to lack a suitable environment for the parasite, is concerning.

Even if rat lungworm disease isn’t the next catastrophic epidemic, something will be.

Climate change, deforestation, global travel, economic instability and the ensuing civil unrest, and changes to funding from wealthy countries for health initiatives in impoverished countries are all contributing to a perfect storm for a global health crisis.

The next article in this series will examine these factors in more detail.

 About Tiffany Sostar

Tiffany is a published academic, an editor with the Editors Association of Canada, an independent scholar and researcher, and a self-care and narrative coach. She is particularly interested in the intersection of technology and identity - how our tools shape our selves and change our stories, and in how the nature of work is changing as we incorporate more technology into our daily lives. 

HEALTH - Experts Predicting Risky Year for Lyme Disease in NE United States

With spring just around the corner, veterinarians and ecologists are beginning to warn about ticks and Lyme disease.

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) has declared March National Tick Awareness Month.

According to their press release, many people don't know one very important fact about ticks: they don't mind cold weather.

In most parts of Canada, tick activity begins when the snow starts to melt and, depending on the tick species, can continue well into late fall.

For example, black-legged ticks that can transmit Lyme disease start looking for animals to feed on when it’s 4°C outside.

“National Tick Awareness Month is a rare opportunity for us to educate and empower pet owners, so we can work together to help prevent the spread of tick-borne diseases that can affect the health of pets and people,” said Dr. Troy Bourque, CVMA President.

Felicia Keesing, an ecologist at Bard College and Rick Ostfeld, an ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in New York, are predicting 2017 will be a particularly risky year for Lyme in the Northeast United States.

Why?

Because the Hudson River Valley experienced a mouse plague in 2016 with an overwhelming number of the critters.

Having studied Lyme disease for more than 20 years, Keesing and Ostfeld have developed a system to predict how many cases there will be a year in advance by counting the mice the year before.

They have found that mice are very good at transmitting Lyme and are responsible for infecting the majority of ticks carrying Lyme in the Northeast.

"An individual mouse might have 50, 60, even 100 ticks covering its ears and face," Ostfeld told NPR.

There was an increase in ticks and Lyme disease in 2016, and it appears that may be the case again this year.

Ticks and their carriers, like mice, live in wooded or bushy areas with high grass or leaf litter.

To reduce the chances that a tick will transmit disease to you or your pets the CDC recommends the following:

• Check your pets for ticks daily, especially after they spend time outdoors.
• If you find a tick on your dog, remove it right away.
• Ask your veterinarian to conduct a tick check at each exam.
• Talk to your veterinarian about tickborne diseases in your area.
• Reduce tick habitat in your yard.
• Talk with your veterinarian about using tick preventives on your pet.

You can find more information about preventing tick bites on the CDC website.

HEALTH - Second Rabid Cat Found in Ontario

On February 6th, a cat infected with rabies was reported in Ontario.

This is just the second reported case of rabies in a domesticated animal in the province in 20 years.

The city of Hamilton Public Health Services is asking anyone who may have lost, abandoned, fed, or came in contact with a male adult orange tabby cat in the area bounded by Rymal Road to the north, 5th Line to the south, Fletcher Road and Harrison Road to the east, and Pauline Johnson Road to the west between Sunday, January 22 and Monday, January 30, 2017 to contact their local health unit to determine whether or not they need rabies post-exposure vaccine.

The city believes the two feline rabies cases are likely related to the resurgence of raccoon rabies in the area.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is conducting tests to determine if this cat is related to the raccoon strain of rabies currently circulating in the wild animal population and results are expected next week.

To protect people and their pets the city is recommending:

• Avoid contact with live or dead animals including raccoons, skunks, bats, as well as unknown dogs and cats. Do not feed, help, or relocate any wildlife of keep them as pets.
• Vaccinate pets against rabies, and keep rabies vaccinations current for dogs and cats to protect them, and prevent any spread to people.
• Report animal bites and scratches to public health by calling 905-546-CITY (2489). Wash wounds with soap and water, and seek medical attention.
• Report sick, injured, or strange behaving wildlife to City of Hamilton Animal Services by calling 905-546-CITY (2489)

As at February 1st, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry reported a total of 277 raccoon strain rabies cases and six fox strain since the outbreak began in December of 2015.

This is 14 new cases in 2017 and does not include the cat discovered this week.

The majority of incidents are raccoon strain rabies:

Raccoons: 187 cases

Skunks: 85 cases

Fox: 1 case

Cat: 1 case

Llama: 1 case

The province has tested over 4,800 animals for rabies and continues to rely on vaccine baits to help control the spread of the disease.

HEALTH - Year Ends With 269 Rabies Cases in Ontario

The province of Ontario has tested over 4,700 animals for rabies since the first case in December of 2015.

Over 1.6M vaccine baits have been distributed to help contain the disease and in the latest report, nine more cases of raccoon strain rabies have been discovered.

Testing from the week before Christmas confirmed five infected raccoons and four infected skunks in the Hamilton, Halton and Brandt regions.

This brings the total to 265 cases of raccoon strain and 4 cases of fox strain rabies in Ontario.

Summary:

Raccoon strain rabies - 265 cases

Hamilton - 213 cases

Haldimand - 19 cases

Brant - 12 cases

Niagara - 12 cases

Halton - 9 cases

Raccoon Strain Species Breakdown:

Raccoons - 181 cases

Skunks - 81 cases

Fox - 1 case

Cat - 1 case

Llama - 1 case

No testing was done through the holidays but will resume next week.

Rabies (Lyssavirus) is an infectious disease that affects the central nervous system in mammals.

It’s transmitted through the saliva when the animal “sheds” the virus.

Rabies is not transmitted through the blood, urine, or feces of an infected animal, nor is it spread airborne through the open environment. Because it affects the nervous system, most rabid animals behave abnormally.

Historically, bats, foxes and skunks are the most common carriers of rabies in Canada, with coyotes and raccoons added to this list in the United States.

It is believed this rabies outbreak in Ontario was caused by a raccoon that rode into Canada on a semi-truck from the US.

HEALTH - Over 250 Rabies Cases in Ontario

The Ontario Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources reported a new case of fox strain rabies this week - found in a cow in Perth County.

This brings the total incidence of fox strain to three.

The outbreak of rabies in the province has largely been the raccoon strain rabies.

There were six new raccoon strain cases this week in two raccoons and four skunks, bringing the total to 250 since the first case in December of last year.

It’s believed the infected animal rode into the province on the back of a tractor trailer and the province has been fighting to manage the disease ever since.

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease which occurs in more than 150 countries and territories

The vast majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.

The government of Ontario is keeping citizens apprised of reported rabies cases and general rabies information on their website.

HEALTH - Rabies a Continuing Concern in Ontario

Despite great efforts, including the distribution of more than 1,600,000 vaccine baits, Ontario continues to see animals infected with rabies.

The latest reported numbers, from last week, bring the total of raccoon strain rabies to 244 along with two cases of fox strain rabies since the first infected animal was discovered in December 2015.

The raccoon strain cases were found in the following areas:

• Hamilton - 198
• Haldimand - 18
• Niagara - 12
• Brant - 11
• Halton - 5

The majority of ill animals were raccoons (170), followed by 72 skunks, one fox and one cat.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry have tested more than 4,300 animals for the disease and are continuing their efforts to control the outbreak.

HEALTH - Global Rabies Control Efforts Continue

An all-time favourite of many is the classic movie Old Yeller, a story about a boy and stray dog set in post-Civil War Texas.

It is a tale about love, childhood adventures, and family and is a challenge to watch and not shed at least one tear.

Because the dog gets stricken with rabies.

Rabies is often associated with dogs, but it affects many different types of mammals and can be transferred to humans quite easily.

September 28th is World Rabies Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about rabies and improving global prevention and control efforts.

September 28th also marks the anniversary of Louis Pasteur's death, the French chemist and microbiologist who developed the first rabies vaccine.

Rabies is a viral disease that is transmitted through the saliva or tissues from the nervous system of an infected mammal to another mammal, usually through a bite.

Typical incubation is three to eight weeks, and once symptoms appear rabies is almost always fatal.

Knowledge about rabies is important even if you are not a pet owner.

Recently an Alberta woman was bitten by a bat hiding in the back seat of her car. Fortunately, she decided to get it checked out - the bat turned out to be rabid.

Because rabies can affect wildlife, anyone who spends time outdoors or has children that do, should be aware of the disease.

Each year around the world, rabies results in more than 59,000 deaths – that is nearly one death every nine minutes.

Up to 60% of all rabies deaths are children under the age of 15.

Despite its almost 100% case fatality rate, canine rabies is completely preventable with modern vaccines. Nobody needs to die of rabies.

What can you do?

1. Take Pets to a Veterinarian for Their Rabies Shot

Regular vet checks and up-to-date vaccinations are key.

2. Stay away of unfamiliar/stray animals and wildlife.

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to avoid contact with wild animals. More than 90% of all animal rabies cases reported to CDC each year occur in wild animals. The main animals that get rabies include raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes.

3. Stay Rabies Free In and Around Your Home

No matter where you live, there are steps you can take to keep wild or stray, rabid animals away.  Simple things like not putting food out or covering up your garbage cans can make a big difference.

For more on protection and prevention visit the Centers for Disease Control website.

Even though there have been great strides controlling rabies it is important to continue the effort.

Take part in this year’s World Rabies Day - look for events in your area that provide an opportunity to celebrate World Rabies Day and get the facts on rabies prevention and control.

By Cori Imbery
Cori is an animal lover and marketing consultant with over 15 years’ experience developing and enhancing in market activities. She brings to the table a 360-degree view that highlights different perspectives and opens minds to possibilities. She is also an artist and creates ultra-realistic pieces in graphite, pastel pencils and acrylics, but loves to play and experiment depending on what the vision calls for.