Known as H3N2 influenza, a new strain of dog flu has been brought from Asia to the United States and is now infecting k-9s and cats across the greater Chicagoland area.

When the outbreaks started a few weeks ago, most owners believed their pets to have caught a simple cold or the more treatable H3N8 strain of influenza. Cornell University, alongside University of Wisconsin, just recently identified the virus as one never before seen in the U.S.

The disease is highly contagious and is spread by close contact. It is particularly dangerous to city pet owners who choose to walk their dogs on sidewalks and allow their pets to greet nose to nose. The virus can also be carried by dogs resistant to the disease and humans.

Side effects include coughing, lethargy, not eating, vomiting, or fever. Village West Veterinary, a Chicagoland animal clinic, suggests that owners vaccinate their pets immediately and try to avoid other dogs as much as possible.

Preventative measures that can be taken along with vaccination are careful bleaching of publicly used areas and the temporary shut down of pet daycare facilities and boarding kennels. Owners must also be aware that they can carry the disease up to 24 hours themselves, and should wash their clothes and hands thoroughly when in contact with other animals.

Toni Bianchi, a shelter consultant, stated via Chicago Tribune, “The dog flu epidemic that has spread into Northwest Indiana poses a health risk for many of our animals, and their well being had to be our paramount concern.”

Since the strain originates Korea and China, the common flu vaccine does not work to prevent or cure animals of the disease.

Katering Kennels specifies, “The current vaccine available specifically stimulates heightened immunity against the H3N8 flu strain, but could possibly help with the Asian strain, despite a lack of antigenic cross-reactivity between the two strains.”

Veterinary hospitals and trainers stress that pet owners should be particularly proactive in protecting their dog and others by receiving vaccinations and doing their best to not spread the disease.