Virginia Tech researcher Dr. Brad Fenwick has spent years battling the various ailments that occasionally sweep through racing-dog populations.

Lately, though, the internationally recognized greyhound expert has found himself working to prevent the spread of what he deems undue panic among dog owners about canine flu.

For the second time in four months, newspapers and other media outlets worldwide have carried alarming stories about a new, potentially deadly strain of influenza that has sickened thousands of dogs.

And for the second time, Fenwick is strongly and publicly disputing what he sees as media "overhype" of a doggie flu that, while fatal on rare occasions, likely comes and goes without most dog owners even noticing.

He is urging the dog-owning public to remain calm.

"This is a lot like a winter cold for humans," said Fenwick, who is also the vice president for research at Virginia Tech. "We sneeze. We cough a little bit. We go to work. We don't take antibiotics and we're fine. We get over it."

News outlets first caught wind of the story in the spring when more than a dozen greyhounds at a Massachusetts racetrack died suddenly of a flulike illness.

The sickness resembled "kennel cough," a relatively common and rarely deadly syndrome that causes coughing, runny nose and other respiratory problems in dogs. But the flu was more contagious.

Tracks in other states reported similar outbreaks, although with fewer or no deaths.

The virus, as well as media attention, waned until this week, when Science magazine published a report on the flu by a team of researchers.

The group wrote that the flu virus, which they believe began in horses and made the rare leap to dogs, appears to have spread beyond greyhounds into the domestic dog population in Florida and other states.

The true scope is yet unknown.

"The canine influenza virus is really the new kid on the block for veterinarians to consider in their differential diagnoses for kennel cough," said Dr. Cynda Crawford, a University of Florida professor and lead researcher, during a Centers for Disease Control press conference this week.

Crawford and her colleagues estimated that the new canine flu had a mortality rate of 5 percent to 8 percent.

Alluding to alarmist media reports and rumors, Crawford said the flu is "not the deadly virus that certain sources have played it up to be" and recommended that dog owners maintain their habits regarding kennels, groomers and dog parks.

Fenwick does not dispute most of the group's scientific findings but he believes the 5 percent to 8 percent mortality figures are "outrageously high."

Fenwick, whose research team is developing a vaccine for the flu, said his studies have found that less than 1 percent of all infected dogs even need treatment with antibiotics to prevent secondary infection, which is what often causes flu-related deaths. Among those 1 percent, a small number died from the illness.

Fenwick attributed the high mortality seen at isolated tracks to delayed or inappropriate treatment.

"We deal with outbreaks that are much more serious all of the time," Fenwick said.

Crawford could not be reached Friday.

Fenwick, who sent a letter to track and kennel owners nationwide at the urging of the American Greyhound Council, also called any suggestion that the dog flu could transfer to humans "irresponsible to the extreme."

Fenwick recommended that dog owners keep a watch over dogs that begin coughing, sneezing or exhibiting other signs. Most will heal by themselves.

Dogs that become depressed or stop eating and playing, however, should be brought to a veterinarian immediately, he said.

Canine flu does not appear to be causing problems in the Roanoke and New River valleys.

"I'm having some owners ask about it, but I really haven't seen any cases here," said Dr. Randall Young with Christiansburg Veterinary Clinic.

Dr. Steve Karras from Cave Spring Veterinary Clinic said his office has also received numerous calls from dog owners concerned about their dogs or the possibility of pets passing it to humans.

Karras, who has not seen any flu cases, said he is urging owners to keep their dogs' vaccinations for kennel cough and other illnesses current to prevent secondary infection should the flu spread locally.