The Flu Mania

Happy Birthday India !!!!
For the past 10 days India (especially Pune) has been in a grip of severe Flu Mania. On Aug 3rd a family lost a girl child to H1N1 flu.Since then there have been 25 deaths to date with Pune bearing a major brunt of it. Though majority of doctors say H1N1 is nothing but any other Flu, but how will this fact console the families of those who have lost some one. Especially people who have a weak imune system have been falling victim to the H1N1 virus.
This week even i lost 2 of my friends, though to a different type of Flu. Blackie and Brownie,the two stray dogs which we were looking after, both passed away from Kennel's cough..a sort of Dog's flu. Blackie, the small pup had been with us for about month and a half. Brownie had been with us for 6-7 months. Both were, brought here when they were small and abandoned / lost. With whatever time they spent with us , a deep bond was formed, not only with us but whole colony. Whether we got food or not but it was ensured that they get food atleast twice a day. But perhaps we as humans could never really understand their needs. Perhaps an average vegetarian human diet was not enough to make the dogs strong. And they succumbed to weak immune system. Blackie caught cold first and then the Kennel cough due to weakened immune system. Brownie too caught it because they shared space and food bowls.So i'll like to pen down few indications of Kennel cough so that a few dogs can be saved(if someone can read this piece and act in time).Look out for following symptoms in dogs to catch kennel cough before it becomes fatal
1) Loss of Appetite
2) Low level of activity.If dogs seem to be lazy ,not doing the regular jumping stuff and showing signs of fatigue.this is an early sign
3) Cough and respiratory problems. At this stage the disease becomes really serious.
4) getting reclusive,hide away from approaching people.This means the death in only 2-3 days away
5) Not wagging tails

This is a highly contagious disease and a good population of dogs in my area is falling ill these days with similar symptoms.
Perhaps i could have done more and maybe both Blackie and brownie could have been saved. But now i can learn a lesson from history and spread awareness.

H1N1 is curable.Just read the symptoms early and go to doctor for screening.Precaution is teh key word here.