Airbourne virus that is not contagious

[Orleander]

How did these dogs get sick? From licking the blood?


Rare disease killing dogs at shelter

BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio (WDTN) - The Logan County Humane Society was quarantined after five dogs died from an extremely rare disease.

Veterenians said it was an upper respiratory disease that came from a virus that mutated from horses. It was so rare that less than a handful of outbreaks had been reported across the country. Officials believe a dog may have brought the disease into the shelter from outside.

All 175 dogs were placed under close supervision at the shelter. Executive Director Lori Plummer said her staff was extremely puzzled when they found five of their furry companions dead in their kennels last week.

"It was a very kind of messy scene in his kennel," Plummer said. "There was a lot of blood and things of that nature that we're not used to seeing."

Veterinarians said the dogs died from a rare form of streptococcus, one that led to hemorragic pneumonia. Within 10-12 hours, veterinarians said the dog's chest cavities filled up with blood, leading to their death. It was an airborne virus that was not contagious.

A sign outside the shelter said it was closed to the public. Plummer said they had to minimize foot traffic inside the facility to reduce the spread of the disease...

 

[Asguard]

those comments are mutually exclusive. They make no sense together, you cant have a virus (which infects a specific species) which is airbourne and NOT contagious. It makes no sense, if its in the air it IS contagious

 

[Orleander]

is the streptococcus a virus?

 

[Asguard]

actually thats a good point, i think its a bacteria. Who the hell IS this guy? hes a complete moron

 

[Orleander]

is there airbourne bacteria?

 

[Asguard]

pnumo y pestis?
Mongacocal?
strep?

 

[Orleander]

umm, is that a yes or a no?

 

[Asguard]

all of those are bacteria which are spread by being sneazed on or by being coughed on. I dont know if they are TRUE airbourne infections or droplet though

 

[CharonZ]

a) Streptococcus is a bacterium, not a virus.

b) It depends on the definition whether a given bacterium is airborne. If you mean whether they are contagious that way, then yes. A lot. Then there are those that can be isolated from the air, even as high as the stratosphere. Not all of them are pathogenic.

Regarding the article, it is likely that the virus weakened the dogs so that they finally died from a Streptococcus infection rather than from the virus itself and media often equate contagious with "contagious for humans".

 

[Fraggle Rocker]

. . . . it is likely that the virus weakened the dogs so that they finally died from a Streptococcus infection rather than from the virus itself . . . .

That's a typical way that people are "killed by viruses." Influenza, for example. Even HIV. The virus weakens the immune system so opportunistic bacteria have a field day.

 

[CharonZ]

You could argue that for any infection with whatever agent, of course, as once the immune system is compromised co-infection can rapidly occur. Death is ultimately due to organ or other systemic failures as a result.