By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – One case does not constitute an outbreak, according to a local veterinarian who is trying to tamp down concerns over dog flu.

“There is certainly no outbreak or crisis in the Bloomington-Normal area,” Doctor Greg Ekdale said.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Ekdale on WJBC.

He told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin the challenge in diagnosing the flu is its symptoms can mirror many other respiratory illnesses and the diagnosis could come weeks after they’ve had the virus.

Ekdale said dog owners should take their pet to the vet – and not wait until they get sick.

“I would always strengthen and value the relationship between dog owners and veterinarians,” Ekdale said. “So I would say, call your veterinarian.”

Ekdale said advice from vets has varied because there’s no certainty, but he’s not suggesting keeping their pets away from parks and daycare due to one confirmed case in the Bloomington-Normal.

“We seek and we search for black and white answers and they’re not there with this,” Ekdale said. “No one can state that even if a dog is vaccinated against this flu that it will be 100 percent protective.”

Dog flu is rarely fatal but is highly contagious. There were more than a 1,000 confirmed cases of dog flu in the Chicago area last year, but no confirmed cases in McLean County until this year.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].