The Chicago Tribune reports that canine distemper is breaking out again despite beliefs that vaccinations had eradicated history's biggest killer of dogs.

In the last year, epidemics of the incurable disease have been reported in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, Dallas, Miami and Washington state. A distemper episode last year killed at least 120 dogs and halted adoptions in shelters throughout the Chicago area before it was brought under control.

And the virus, while quieter now in Chicago, still poses a threat. "We're still receiving some animals straight from the street that are sick with active distemper," said Marek Dygas, chief veterinarian for the Chicago Department of Animal Care and Control.

The article goes on to provide lots of infomration about canine distemper, and I would recommend everyone to read it. Last October we published an article entitled, "How to Identify Canine Distemper".