A new strain of influenza virus has emerged in dogs. This is an H3N8 subtype of the influenza A virus…
A new strain of influenza virus affecting dogs (which has caused fatalities in some hunting dogs) has been identified as a variant of the equine influenza virus and poses a threat to companion animals such as dogs and cats, though it does not affect humans.
Research results published on September 26 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States indicate that experts have discovered a new influenza virus in dogs, identified as subtype H3N8, which has two important protein components.
The H3N8 virus causes respiratory illness similar to a condition known as “kennel cough,” which can lead to numerous infectious agents. The H3N8 virus was first detected in horses over 40 years ago; however, there have been no reported cases of human infection with this virus since then.
According to the publication “Science” (USA), there is no evidence that the “dog flu virus” can be transmitted to humans.
Nonetheless, studying the dog influenza virus is crucial for understanding the relationship between the transmission mechanisms of this virus and the H5N1 avian influenza virus, a dangerous virus that has claimed the lives of 65 individuals in various Asian countries since late 2003.
