The " new " parvo revisited -- and the sky is still not falling

A frantic email supposedly originating from the Humane Society of Kent County in Michigan started making the rounds this week. It warned of a "new" strain of parvo against which current vaccines didn't provide protection.



Sound familiar? It should. This is the same "new" parvo that's been around for 7 years now, but just last February there was an internet explosion of worry about it, due to a press release about a new lab test that came with some unfortunately inflammatory language and details.



The mass-forwarded email ostensibly came from a veterinarian at HSKC, and it was quite alarming, suggesting that many vaccines didn't provide coverage against this "new" strain of parvo, and that it was particularly deadly.



That email was, of course, considerably more alarming than the actual press release (PDF) from HSKC, which warned of a nasty parvo outbreak at the shelter and limitations on animal surrenders and shelter hours while they dealt with it.



Vets in the area where HSKC is located got together this week to discuss the outbreak, and they, along with the shelter, issued a new press release (PDF) yesterday:

There has NOT been an obvious increase in the number of canine parvoviral infections in properly immunized dogs this season. However, dogs that are not appropriately vaccinated may run a very high risk of parvoviral infection. This disease is a potentially devastating, life-threatening illness.



There have been no confirmed cases of the new C2 strain of canine parvovirus in Michigan. This strain of the virus has been isolated in Europe and in 12 other US states and has been present for 7+ years.



Currently, it appears that properly immunized dogs are protected from the C2 strain of parvovirus.



It is imperative that dogs be properly immunized in order to have the best chance of protection from all forms of parvovirus. All the vaccines currently being used by area veterinarians are protective against the 2C strain of parvovirus (providing the proper vaccination protocols are followed).



Unvaccinated puppies and unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated adults dogs are at greatest risk for parvovirus and should be seen by their veterinarian as soon as possible.

So there you have it. Just like last time, when I wrote about this same subject.



I realize these types of messages don't have the wings that the more alarming ones do, but hopefully when someone on your dog email list or at the dog park tells you the sky is falling, you can at least say, no, actually... it's not. Yes, there are testing issues related to this virus, but it's no more deadly than the already-deadly-enough parvovirus in dogs, and the main pets at risk are, as always with parvo, young puppies.



My original article on the "new parvo" scare is here. My interview with veterinary clinical virologist Dr. Melissa Kennedy is here. Spread the word!

Comments

[slt]

"Spread the word!"



O I am trying! Unfortunately, for every sourced quote I offer explaining clearly that this is NOT a new strain of Parvo, that it does not "jump the vaccines" and there is no "epidemic", at least 2 people come back with "It's for reals" posts. : (

[Christie Keith]

LOL... aw shucks, ma'am!

[slt]

haha, OK Christie, I have several e-mail lists for you to join so you can go in and crack the whip! ; )

[Gina Spadafori]

Let Christie deal with them. NO ONE wins an argument with her. :)

[Christie Keith]

Oh yes, I definitely need more lists. ;)

[T. Gray]

In Calgary AB (Canada) there has apparently been an increase of parvo in younger dogs (not yet vaccinated?) and older dogs which had never been vaccinated or had incomplete vaccinations. There were some news clips on local TV stations and articles in the papers. The coverage was factual, not alarmist, and indicated parvo was preventable if vaccinations were done.

[Kelly]

I do indeed believe this is an epidemic your telling people not to worry about it if your dogs are vaccinated my friend recently found out she has parvou and it is not stopping @ anything KILLING all of her dogs with VACCINATIONS. all her dogs were fully distemper,parvo,ect... vaccinated every single one of them. so far 3 have passed away.NOW if you dont feel like you should inform people of this dont but if that can happend to dogs with vaccinations what will happen to dogs with out them.and they continue on having seizures 25 to be exact do you want your dogs to endure such painful disease. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM>

[Gina Spadafori]

Kelly, your fear-mongering is not based in science and utterly unhelpful to keeping our dogs healthy. You don't know what killed your friend's dogs. And yet, you are here spreading Internet panic -- or trying to.



Not going to happen. I'm sorry about your friend's dogs, but scaring everyone else isn't going to make them come back, not will it prevent tragedy in other dogs. Learn some critical thinking skills, and quit spreading unsubstantiated rumors.

[Christopher Gates]

Excuse me, Gina, but I've had to put 2 dogs down this week and they did have Parvo. According to my Vet they're seeing approx 6 dogs a week with the disease. If that doesn't sound like an outbreak than I don't know what one is. if you're not going to warn people to keep they're dogs away from high traffic dog areas, who will? This problem needs to be addressed.