The dog of Nina Pham, the first of two Dallas nurses diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S., has tested negative for the virus, according to a statement from the city Wednesday.
The dog, Bentley, a 1-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, has been quarantined since Oct. 13, when Dallas officials became concerned that Pham could have passed the virus on to her dog. Dallas Animal Services collected samples of Bentley’s urine and feces Monday to test for the virus, the city said, adding that specimen collection will be conducted and tested again during Bentley’s quarantine.
The fate of Bentley drew widespread concern last week after Pham was infected with Ebola, marking the first case of transmission within the U.S. Animal rights activists and pet lovers feared Bentley would be euthanized, as was the dog of a Spanish nursing aide diagnosed with Ebola. Dallas officials vowed to keep Bentley safe.
Experts have said there is no evidence that domestic pets, such as dogs or cats, can transmit Ebola to humans, discrediting concerns that pets might, for example, lick the mouth of someone with Ebola and then become infected and transmit the disease. Authorities say it is possible for pets to become infected, but that the transmission ends there.
Ebola can be transmitted, however, by wild animals, such as bats and chimpanzees, that are often exposed to the virus after eating bush meat, experts say.
The dog, Bentley, a 1-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, has been quarantined since Oct. 13, when Dallas officials became concerned that Pham could have passed the virus on to her dog. Dallas Animal Services collected samples of Bentley’s urine and feces Monday to test for the virus, the city said, adding that specimen collection will be conducted and tested again during Bentley’s quarantine.
The fate of Bentley drew widespread concern last week after Pham was infected with Ebola, marking the first case of transmission within the U.S. Animal rights activists and pet lovers feared Bentley would be euthanized, as was the dog of a Spanish nursing aide diagnosed with Ebola. Dallas officials vowed to keep Bentley safe.
Experts have said there is no evidence that domestic pets, such as dogs or cats, can transmit Ebola to humans, discrediting concerns that pets might, for example, lick the mouth of someone with Ebola and then become infected and transmit the disease. Authorities say it is possible for pets to become infected, but that the transmission ends there.
Ebola can be transmitted, however, by wild animals, such as bats and chimpanzees, that are often exposed to the virus after eating bush meat, experts say.
So does this mean animals are quarantines a week? SMH. I wouldn't take chances knowing how long these mean bats in Africa carry that virus around.
With files from WSJ
