WASHINGTON — The Fairfax County Animal Shelter will begin adopting dogs again after being forced to temporarily shut down due to widespread illness.

Last week, a flu-like outbreak sickened about a dozen dogs. At least one died of canine pneumonia.

“All of the sick and exposed dogs have been isolated into one area of the shelter and the other areas are being decontaminated,” says shelter director Kristen Auerbach in an email.

“We are open for adoptions and starting [Tuesday], people can enter and exit the shelter without being exposed.”

Several more dogs have come down with symptoms, but none of the cases have been serious, Auerbach says.

The shelter warns people against bringing dogs in for adoption. They have limited space until the outbreak is contained.

Follow @WTOP on Twitter.