LINCOLN PARK, Mich. -- The highly contagious Parvovirus has shut down an animal shelter in Lincoln Park.

The animals have all been transferred to the Wyandotte animal shelter while the Lincoln Park facility is disinfected, city officials said.

"Experts tell us it has to be sterilized and antibacterials that attack that type of virus must be used on porous surfaces," Lincoln Park City Manager Steve Duchane said. "Then what we intend to do is completely repaint the facility to trap and contain the porous surfaces."

Parvovirus, a deadly viral disease, was discovered at the shelter on March 13, officials said, and so far there have been four confirmed Parvo-related deaths.

Experts said Parvo can be carried on clothes, food pans and cage floors for as long as five months.

"We've also learned that it occurs more often than we thought," Duchane said.

Duchane said the animals that were adopted from the Shelter before they knew of the outbreak have all been accounted for.

"They've been with private agencies and others were adopted out -- they have been checked," Duchane said. "And we seem to be prepared to start over."

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According to peteducation.com:

"The Canine Parvovirus Dieases is currently the most common infectious disorder of dogs in the United States. 'Parvo' is a highly contagious disease characterized by diarrhea that is often bloody and is caused by a pathogen called canine parvovirus, Type 2 (CPV-2). In 1980, the original strain of CPV-2 was replaced by CPV-2A and in 1986, another variation called CPV-2B appeared.

CPV-2B has largely replaced the previous strains as the most common isolate. Since all of these strains are similar, we will lump them together and refer to them as CPV-2 (parvo).

There is currently some discussion that there may be other strains that are beginning to emerge and have yet to be formally identified. Current vaccinations have helped to control the spread of this disease but despite being vaccinated, some dogs still contract and die from parvo. There is much that we do not know about the virus or the best way to control the disease, but we are learning new information daily.

Misinformation about the disease, its spread, and vaccination is widespread in both breeding and veterinary circles. We hope that with a better understanding of the disease, pet owners will be able to make good husbandry decisions that will help prevent and reduce the spread of this disease.

How is Parvo spread? CPV-2 is known to survive on inanimate objects - such as clothing, food pans, and cage floors - for 5 months and longer in the right conditions. Insects and rodents may also serve as vectors playing an important role in the transmission of the disease."