Humans Get Parvo

Milford Vet Sheds Light on Deadly Dog Virus

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture has quarantined Meriden's Animal Control kennels due to the presence of a highly contagious and deadly disease for dogs.

At least one dog, possibly more, according to Meriden Police Captain Michael Zakrzewski, has been infected by parvovirus or "parvo," a disease that destroys the intestinal lining of dogs and kills white blood cells – most often causing death.

No dogs can be taken into the kennels at 311 Murdock Ave. and no dogs can be removed from the facility until the quarantine is lifted. It's unknown when that will occur. The DOAG shuttered the facility on Thursday, June 16, and the order says that it can't reopen until 14 days after the last clinical signs of the disease are seen in any of the dogs.

During the quarantine, Animal Control officers will continue to take calls about strays, found and lost animals and relinquished pets, according to Zakrzewski, who oversees the unit, making arrangements for newly impounded dogs to be held off-site.

The Meriden Humane Society, which is housed in a separate part of the same building, is trying to help pick up the slack, according to Director Marlena DiBianco. The Humane Society is not under quarantine, and though it is near-capacity, is taking in dogs and putting them in foster homes with volunteers.

About Parvo

Parvo is common in kennels and can spread like wildfire in locations where many dogs are housed.

"You don’t know when you’re picking these dogs up what dogs have had their shots, what dogs are healthy," Zakrzewski said. "When they bring a dog into the pound that’s infected with it – it subjects all the other animals to getting this."

Zakrzewski did not know the status of the dog or dogs infected, but said that they had been taken to the Meriden Animal Hospital last week.

The disease spreads most quickly by "fecal-oral" transmission – when healthy dogs come into contact with the feces of infected dogs, said Rebecca Saria, a veterinarian with Gold Coast Mobile Veterinary Service out of Milford. Saria was at Meriden's Humane Society Monday to vaccinate some of the facility's animals.

It can also spread through less direct transmission, if fecal particles get on clothes or other items and wind up entering the body – say through the eyes, nose or mouth.

The virus does not for the most part cause harm to other animals, but can cause a rash in humans, particularly children, Saria said.

Can puppy parvo be passed on to an unborn baby? | pregnant woman

Question by Becky Viau : Can puppy parvo be passed on to an unborn baby?

I am pregnant for the first time and my dog has parvo, is is possible that the parvo can be passed onto my unborn baby? I do not want to do anything to harm my baby and if I have to get rid of the dog then I will. But I would like to know before I make any deceisions.

Thanks!

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