Virus outbreak has experts worried for dogs 76 distemper cases since April, city says

Chicago has seen an outbreak of a distemper virus that can bedeadly to dogs -- 76 cases reported in Chicago since April, whilenone were reported last year, the Department of Animal Care andControl said Thursday.

The virus is a 200-year-old killer said to be the leading cause ofdeath in U.S.-born-and-bred pets up until the 1950s when specializedimmunizations became available.

Officials don't know the cause of the outbreak but plan to meetnext month to study it.

Humans and cats cannot contract the virus, which is fatal about 50percent of the time in dogs, the department said. Pets that don'tcroak are usually prone to brain damage and other ailments, such …