SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The first dog flu case in Iowa has been confirmed in Sioux City. Dr. Kyoung-Jin Yoon with the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Iowa State University says samples from a sick dog treated at the Perry Creek Animal Hospital are believed to be the latest strain of canine flu, H3N2. He says the specific strain hasn’t yet been confirmed.

The virus has swept the Midwest in recent weeks, sickening more than 1,000 dogs and killing five between January and March. Dr. David Ray, the veterinarian who first treated the sick dog April 20 in Sioux City, says the owners reported his health was improving as of Monday. He says about half of animal clinics in the area have reported dogs with flu-like symptoms, including fever, nasal discharge and a dry cough.