Here’s a screenshot of a quick but useful New World Screwworm (NWS) resource for animal shelters that was developed by University of Wisconsin-Madison Shelter Medicine Program in collaboration with a number of shelter organizations and shelter medicine experts. With the continued re-emergence and spread of NWS from Central America back into the southern US
H3N6 Influenza in Dogs: Another Canine Flu Strain?
If we know one thing about influenza A, it’s that there will always be something new with this virus.
A recent study out of China (Meng et al. 2023) describes what seems to be a new canine flu strain. Is it a concern? It’s hard to say at this point, but having more flu strains
H5N1 Avian Flu and Animal Shelters
As the unprecedented global H5N1 avian flu outbreak continues (with no real end in sight), and as we get the spring mix of migrating birds, mingling bird populations, more active wildlife and a pending crop of baby wild critters, concerns about spillover infections from birds to mammals are on the rise.
The current H5N1 influenza
Canine Pneumovirus Outbreaks: Important or Not? (Plus a Link to Antimicrobial Stewardship)
I’m focusing on antimicrobials this week since it’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, but this is a timely topic and there’s an antimicrobial twist.
A couple of recent reports about a canine pneumovirus outbreak in a shelter in Tacoma WA and a separate outbreak of canine pneumovirus in a shelter in Las Vegas NV have,
COVID-19 Control Measures in Animal Shelters
As the world tries to (prematurely) transition back to some semblance of normalcy (or at least what used to be “normal”), it’s a challenge to figure out what changes to make, and when. There will never be agreement between everybody. Some want full reversion to “normal” now, some want third-wave-level restrictions until further notice… like
Isolation of SARS-CoV-2-Exposed Animals in Animal Shelters
Throughout the pandemic, countless decisions have had to be made, often with limited data. As more information becomes available, guidance and recommendation are updated. That sometimes upsets people, but it’s a good thing because it means we know more. If no recommendations had changed since early 2020, it would mean that we were really intuitive
New Feline Virus: Fechavirus
As SARS-CoV-2 reminded everyone, there are lots of undiscovered viruses out there, and some of them can cause disease in humans, animals, or both. It’s not very hard to find a new virus, actually. Figuring out what it means is often the challenge, because simply finding a virus in a sick person or animal doesn’t
Shelter Adoptions in the COVID-19 Era
Since we’re entering kitten season, there will be lots of animals in shelters needing homes. I’ve done a couple of virtual talks for shelter groups this week, with a focus on implementing physical distancing and other preventive measures, while maintaining as much of a semblance of normal shelter operations as possible.
I’ve also had quite
H7N2 Influenza in a New York animal shelter: A recap
The 2016 outbreak of H7N2 influenza in cats in a New York shelter, with transmission to one veterinarian, got a lot of attention, including a few posts on our blog. H7N2 influenza is known to have been circulating in birds in the US since at least 1994, and two human infections had been identified
More on H7H2 influenza in cats (and now a person)
A press release by the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has provided some interesting new information about the recent H7N2 influenza outbreak in cats. This avian influenza strain is causing an ongoing outbreak in cats in shelters in New York, and human surveillance has been underway.
Three-hundred fifty (350) people have