Dog flu is mutating into a virus that could infect humans, scientists warn.
The contagious respiratory disease previously evolved from a strain of bird flu called H3N2. First infecting dogs back in 2006, the condition has continued to mutate and has since developed to better recognise human cells.
Researchers are concerned that this could bring the virus one step closer to inhabiting the human body, following results of a study that examined swabs from more than 4,000 dogs. Academics suggest that Dogs may serve as an "intermediate" for bird flu, allowing it to adapt to something that could infect humans.