East Shelter Daily Distemper Updates

We want to share with you the same message we’ve provided to MCACC staff, volunteers, and partners. As we begin to receive test results back for East, here is the methodology that we will be using to determine the next steps for each of the dogs that were tested. It is important to understand that this is a developing situation and at any time, threshold decisions are subject to change.

The majority of dogs at the East facility were tested with two methods: PCR (laboratory method that amplifies DNA/RNA material from respiratory swabs to detect if specific viruses are present - very sensitive and specific for the infectious agent itself, can also detect modified virus from a very recent vaccination) and Titer (blood-based test for antibodies to a specific agent, antibody levels can suggest a response to a vaccine, protection from a past infection, or the early vs later phase of an active infection). 

_{The guidelines MCACC will follow:}

1. If a dog has a negative PCR test, has titers in the IgM or IgG category, and does not have any clinical signs of illness, the dog will be available for blind adoption until the facility is reopened to the public. 
2. If the dog has a positive PCR test, the dog will be humanely euthanized. 
3. If the dog has an indeterminate PCR test with clinical signs of illness, the dog will be humanely euthanized. 
4. If a dog has an indeterminate PCR test with no clinical signs of illness, the dog will be given a 24-hour NHO deadline due to the dog having a detectable viral load during a CDV outbreak regardless of lack of current clinical signs which requires a New Hope Partner to seek immediate follow-up medical care, including continued isolation at a veterinary facility, intensive monitoring and/or treatment, and retesting.
5. If a dog has a negative PCR test, has titers in the IgM or IgG category, and has clinical signs of illness, the dog will be given a 72-hour Urgent Medical deadline due to the dog having a medical condition(s) (Clinical signs of CIRDC with recent negative PCR [for CDV]) that requires an adopter or partner to seek immediate follow-up medical care, including continued isolation at a veterinary facility, possible intensive care and/or treatment, and possible retesting, for the animal, and which could require extensive and/or long-term treatment. 

We will begin reporting daily progress at our East shelter. We began tracking the outcomes for the dogs at East beginning on 10/27. Since that time, we have unfortunately had to humanely euthanize 34 dogs that tested positive for distemper (as of 11/22).