WAILUKU » A virus that killed eight cats on Maui over the summer appears to be dormant, a veterinarian said.

"It’s really, really fortunate," said Dr. Miyo Miya­saki-Kim, director of veterinary services at the Maui Humane Society.

But she’s skeptical that cat distemper has been eradicated because the summer outbreak affected cats in multiple parts of the island, The Maui News reported Friday.

The deadly virus is called feline panleukopenia. The Humane Society says it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, fever and sudden death. The disease is prevalent on the mainland but uncommon in Hawaii.

Miyasaki-Kim predicted the virus will come back in waves if it returns, similar to the parvovirus in dogs.

"We won’t see it for months, and then we’ll have an outbreak and see it for two to three weeks," she said.

She says Maui’s large population of feral cats could determine whether the disease returns and how fast it spreads.

One of the nine Maui cats diagnosed with the illness this summer survived. Miya­saki-Kim said the sole survivor was vaccinated by its owner.

"It just goes to show the value of vaccinations. We can’t emphasize it enough," said Miya­saki-Kim.

Summer’s outbreak prompted the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Maui and the Humane Society to hold several vaccination clinics in June and July.