Can dogs spread the deadly Ebola virus? Inconclusive.
However, at least one study has shown that dogs may be infected with Ebola without showing symptoms. As a precaution, a Spanish court ordered the execution of a dog of a sick Spanish nurse on the 7th.
【Possible but not confirmed】
The source of Ebola virus transmission has not yet been finalized. Researchers' papers published in the authoritative scientific journals "Nature" and "Science" show that fruit bats are most suspected. In addition, the World Health Organization lists chimpanzees, gorillas, forest antelopes and porcupines as possible reservoirs of Ebola virus.
An article published on the website of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2005 showed that dogs may be infected with the Ebola virus without showing symptoms. When the Ebola epidemic broke out in Gabon, a country in western Africa, from 2001 to 2002, a number of researchers inspected 337 dogs in several villages and towns and found that the proportion of Ebola virus antibody-positive dogs ranged from about 9 dogs to the deadly Ebola. Virus? Not yet finalized.
However, at least one study has shown that dogs can be infected by the Ebola virus without symptoms. As a preventive measure, a Spanish court ordered the execution of a dog of a sick Spanish nurse on the 7th.
[possibly, but unconfirmed]
The source of the Ebola virus has not yet been determined. Research papers published in the well-known scientific journal Nature and Science show that fruit bats are the most suspicious. In addition, the World Health Organization lists chimpanzees, gorillas, forest antelopes and porcupines as potential Ebola virus reservoirs.
An article published on the website of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2005 indicated that dogs may be infected with Ebola virus without symptoms. From 2001 to 2002, when the Ebola virus outbreak occurred in Gabon, a country in West Africa, many researchers tested 337 dogs in several villages and towns and found that the proportion of Ebola virus antibodies was about 9% . From 25%. However, the author of the article did not confirm that dogs can be infected with the virus. Ebola virus is infected through body fluids, and the most important channels are blood, feces and vomit. According to the WHO, saliva and tears can also be transmitted, and Ebola virus has also been found in breast milk, urine and semen.
Therefore, in theory, if a dog infected with Ebola is bitten or licked or washed its feces, it will be infected.
Medical staff have different opinions on whether people will infect dogs. “I think it’s possible,” said Sharon Curtis of Gran Cogg, spokesperson for the American Veterinary Medical Association. However, unless the dog approaches or eats dead animals or humans, This is unlikely.
North Carolina State University veterinarian Dr. Peter Cowan holds the opposite view. Cohen has been discussing the risks of animal-borne diseases everywhere. Thomas Frieden, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said: "There is no record that dogs can be infected with Ebola." No. "We have studied all the possibilities, but this has not yet been determined as a means of communication.
[Patient euthanasia]
Although this issue is not clear, the infected female nurse in Spain is facing the death penalty. The local government of Madrid received a court order on the 7th to euthanize the dog. The government reasoned that "there is no scientific evidence" that dogs will not spread the Ebola virus.
Nurse This female nurse was the first case of Ebola virus outside of Africa on September 30. She works at Carlos III Hospital in Madrid, where she provides care for two sick priests in Africa. Two patients died on August 12 and September 25, respectively. The nurse's husband and two colleagues were also isolated for observation.
Carlos Odriguez, the organizer and veterinarian of a Spanish animal-themed talk show, said that the female nurse and her husband could not bear the death penalty of the dog. The owner sent Rodgas a message from the hospital asking him to temporarily adopt his dog. But because of the court order, Rodriguez said he could not help. "He cried again, at least asking to make sure that the dog does not die in pain." The Spanish animal rights organization decided that the authorities would execute the dog directly without physical examination or quarantine. Veterinarian Cohen said: "This is obviously an overreaction."
% to 25%. However, the author of the article did not confirm that dogs can transmit the virus to people.
Ebola virus is transmitted through body fluids, the most important channels are blood, feces and vomit. The WHO says that saliva and tears may also be transmitted; Ebola virus has also been detected in breast milk, urine and semen.
Therefore, in theory, if a person is bitten or licked by a dog infected with Ebola, or if a person cleans up dog feces, they may be infected.
Medical staff have different opinions on whether humans can be infected by dogs. Sharon Curtis Granskog, spokesperson for the American Veterinary Association, told the Associated Press, "I think it is possible." However, if the dog does not approach or eat the dead animal or human carcass, this This is unlikely.
North Carolina State University veterinary scholar Peter Cowan holds the opposite view. Cowan has consulted on the risks of animal-borne diseases in various places. He said: "There has never been a record showing that dogs can transmit the Ebola virus. This is obviously not the main route of (virus) transmission in this outbreak in Africa." said Thomas Frieden, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Obviously, We will study all possibilities. We have not yet identified this as a means of transmission."
[Patient pet euthanasia]
Although this issue is inconclusive, the dog of an infected female nurse in Spain faces the death penalty. The local government of Madrid received a court order on the 7th to euthanize the dog. The government’s reasoning is that “there is no scientific evidence” that dogs will not spread the Ebola virus.
This female nurse developed symptoms on September 30 and was the first case of contracting Ebola virus outside of Africa. She worked at the Carlos III Hospital in Madrid, where she nursed two priests who were sick in Africa. Two patients died on August 12 and September 25, respectively. The nurse's husband and two colleagues were also isolated for observation.
The host of a Spanish animal-themed talk show and veterinarian Carlos Rodríguez said that the female nurse and her husband could not bear the execution of the dog. The host sent Rodriguez a message from the hospital, begging him to adopt the dog temporarily. But because of the court's order, Rodriguez said he couldn't help. "He begged me again, crying, at least to make sure that the dog didn't die in pain."
The Spanish animal rights organization is dissatisfied that the authorities will directly execute the dog without medical examination or isolation. "This is obviously an overreaction," said Cowan, a veterinarian.