Distemper Outbreak Miami Dade Animal Services

Yet again Miami Dade Animal Services has shut its door to intake of new dogs after a Distemper outbreak was found among their dog population. So far 18 dogs and puppies have been Euthanized and the others in the shelter are being monitored. The shelter’s remaining 211 dogs and puppies will be monitored over the next two weeks for potential exposure to the virus. Outbreak of highly contagious disease at this facility is nothing new to local residents. While the facility is under new management since the last major outbreak of disease and over the years they have drasticallly overhauled practices it still proves not to be enough.

Canine distemper is a viral disease that affects dogs and ferrets. It is a single-stranded RNA virus a close relative of human measles. Puppies up to six months old are particularly susceptible. Distemper spreads through aerosol droplets and through contact with infected bodily fluids including nasal and eye secretions, feces, and urine 6–22 days after exposure. It can also be spread by food and water contaminated with these fluids. The time between infection and disease is 14 to 18 days, although there can be a fever several days after infection.

Distemper Outbreak first appears in lymph nodes and tonsils two days after exposure. The virus then enters the blood stream on the within 3 days. Acute fever tends to begin around 3 to 8 days after infection, which is often accompanied by a low white blood cell count as well as low platelet count. These signs may or may not be accompanied by anorexia, a runny nose, and discharge from the eye. A second round of fever begins around the 11th or 12th day and lasts at least a week. Gastrointestinal and respiratory problems tend to follow. Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord often occurs at this point.

The only thing that kills distemper is bleach.