BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

L.A. animal shelter hit with potentially deadly bacterial outbreak

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

maylen

https://digital-stage.newsnationnow.com/

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

(KTLA) — A Los Angeles animal shelter is diverting pets to other facilities due to an outbreak of a highly contagious and potentially deadly respiratory illness, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, or strep zoo.

Several dogs at the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center have tested positive for the bacteria and are undergoing treatment, managers said.

The symptoms of strep zoo are similar to Kennel Cough, with coughing, sneezing and nasal discharge. Veterinarians say it can lead to pneumonia and even death, especially in dogs with weakened immune systems.

Strep Zoo outbreak
Workers at the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center treat a dog amid an outbreak of strep zoo. August 2024. (@lacoanimals)

“We wanted to assure the public we are fully mobilized to address this emergency and keep our pets as healthy as possible by following strict health and safety protocols,” the shelter posted on social media, along with a video showing volunteers cleaning the facility and testing docs.

Experts say strep zoo is unlikely to spread to humans, but it is possible. The shelter remained open on Friday, but visitors were barred from touching the animals.

“Most dogs have not seen or had it or been exposed to [strep zoo],” veterinarian Dr. Jeff Werber told Nexstar’s KTLA 5 News. “For those that get the infection, it’s extremely aggressive.”

Werber said the Baldwin Park shelter should be very cautious in introducing the animals into other shelters to avoid further spread of the bacteria.

West

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Sunny

la

69°F Sunny Feels like 69°
Wind
6 mph SW
Humidity
27%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 47F. Winds light and variable.
47°F Clear to partly cloudy. Low 47F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph NNE
Precip
11%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous