The News came right out of the blue: "A University of Florida scientist in Gainesville says a new, deadly and highly contagious canine flu virus has been detected in seven U.S. states."

The extent of the spread of the virus, believed to have mutated from an equine influenza strain, has not been determined, the New York Times reported.

Dr. Lisa Zerbel, a veterinarian in Massachusetts who is treating some of the sick dogs, said she thinks the illnesses are caused by a new strain of the influenza virus that is more virulent than the common one known as "Kennel Cough."

But other experts say it is too soon to pinpoint the cause.

"The reason this is happening is because greyhounds travel from track to track, and they may be incubating the illness without someone knowing," Dr. Zerbel said.

"What is this new dog flu virus?"

Dr. Cynda Crawford, an immunologist at the Florida university's College of Veterinary Medicine is studying the virus and told the NY Times it spreads most easily where dogs are housed together.

But she also added that the virus could also be passed on the street, in dog runs -- or even by human pet owners transferring it from an infected dog to a healthy dog!

The virus, which scientists say mutated from an influenza strain that affects horses, has killed racing greyhounds in seven states and has been found in shelters and pet shops in many places, including the New York suburbs, though the extent of its spread is unknown.

Dr. Crawford said it was not known how many dogs have died from the virus, but scientists believe the fatality rate might be as high as 10 percent among puppies and older dogs.

She told the Times symptoms were often mistaken for "Kennel Cough," a common canine bacterial illness, that is caused by the bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria.

Both diseases can cause coughing and gagging for up to three weeks, but dogs with canine flu may get fevers as high as 106 degrees and have runny noses, the Times reported. A few will develop pneumonia, and some of those cases will be fatal.

Just how many dogs die from the virus is not clear, but experts said the fatality rate is more than 1 percent and could be as high as 10 percent among puppies and older dogs.

Dr. Crawford first began investigating greyhound deaths in January 2004 at a racetrack in Jacksonville, Fla., where 8 of the 24 greyhounds who contracted the virus died.

Which has caused many concerned dog owners to ask -- "Why haven't we been told about this deadly dog virus earlier?"

"This is a newly emerging pathogen," Crawford stated, "and we have very little information to make predictions about it. But I think the fatality rate is between 1 and 10 percent."

She also stated that because dogs have no natural immunity to the virus, virtually every animal exposed would be infected. About 80 percent of dogs that are infected with the virus will develop symptoms.

The new flu virus is an H3N8 influenza closely related to an equine flu strain. It is not related to typical human influenzas or to the H5N1 avian flu that has killed about 100 people in Asia.

Experts said there were no known cases of the canine flu infecting humans.

"The risk of it spreading to humans is low, but we are keeping an eye on it," said Dr. Ruben Donis, Chief of Molecular Genetics for the Influenza Branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is tracking the illness.

But with the approach of the human flu season and fears about bird flu in Asia, there is much confusion among some dog owners who have heard about the disease.

Laboratory tests, Dr. Donis said, have shown that the new flu is susceptible to the two most common antiviral drugs, Amantidine and Tamiflu, but those drugs are not licensed in the US for use in dogs.

The flu has killed greyhounds at tracks in Florida, Arizona, Iowa, Texas, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Massachusetts. Tracks and kennels have been forced to shut down for weeks for disinfection. Officials say that authorities in all other States have been notified to watch for the flu virus. Information will be sent to kennels, veterinarians and State authorities.

In Canada, animals entering Canada will be even more closely inspected, said a spokeswoman for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The Agency, which runs the National Animal Health Program, is responsible for establishing import requirements for animals and animal products coming into Canada, including pets. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has prepared basic guidelines for frequently imported pets. Reports that an infected dog may already have entered the Province of New Brunswick from the State of Maine are being investigated.

In Chestnut Ridge, north of New York City, about 88 dogs became sick by early September, and 15 percent of those required hospitalization, said Debra Bennetts, a spokeswoman for Best Friends Pet Care, a chain of boarding kennels. The kennel was vacated for decontamination by Sept. 17, 2005.

About 17 of the infected dogs were treated at the Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, N.J., where one died and two more were still hospitalized, a staff veterinarian said.

The Best Friends chain owns 41 other kennels in 18 states, and no others have had an outbreak, Dr. Larry J. Nieman, the company's veterinarian, said.

In late July, at Gracelane Kennels in Ossining, N.Y., about 35 dogs showed symptoms, said the owner, Bob Gatti, and he closed the kennel for three weeks to disinfect.

About 25 of the dogs were treated by an Ossining veterinarian, Glenn M. Zeitz, who said two of them had died.

"The dogs came in very sick, with high fevers and very high white blood cell counts," Dr. Zeitz stated, making him suspicious that they had something worse than kennel cough.

A spokesman for the New York City Health Department told the NY Times that there were "a few confirmed cases" in New York but that the city was not yet tracking the disease.

Veterinarians voluntarily sent samples to the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at the Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine, which was the only laboratory doing blood tests.

One US scientist, who didn't want to be identified, told a Canadian writer, "This outbreak should have been reported months ago! It's spreading, and spreading fast."

"How do I protect my dog?"

FIRST: If your dog is still a puppy, keep him away from sick or stray dogs and wildlife until he is at least five months old. Do not board him or take him to places where other dogs are found until he is fully protected. Your vet will be glad to tell you exactly when your puppy is ready to socialize with other canines. If he is an older dog, it may be best to keep him indoors, until more information on the virus is available.

SECOND: Make sure that your puppy gets all his shots.

The reason your puppy needs shots is that he loses the protective antibodies that came from his mother when he is between six and sixteen months old. At this time, if he has not developed a strong immune system, your puppy will be susceptible to a wide range of disease. Shots for distemper and parvovirus protect him from contacting a potentially fatal disease.

THIRD: RESEARCH! Make sure that you know exactly what is going on!

"What is a healthy pet worth to any of us? If you are like me, having your best friend be healthy and happy is priceless!" stated Dr. Andrew Jones, of the Nelson Animal Hospital, British Columbia.

Check out your local veterinarian for the latest information. If this is cost restrictive, or you are a person who likes the latest COMPLETE information on a subject, check out Andrew Jones new Book: VETERINARY SECRETS REVEALED. Besides his Book, Dr. Jones also answers questions by email!

To see more about "Kennel Cough" and how to recognize it, see PUPPY DOGS INFO's "5 MOST COMMON PUPPY AILMENTS and How To Treat Them."

And keep up with the latest dog information at PUPPY DOGS INFO

See more Articles by Brian Alan Burhoe at PUPPY DOGS INFO: http://www.puppy-dogs.info