As U.S. health officials struggle to contain the monkeypox outbreak, some pet owners wonder if their four-legged companions could be at risk.
Can pets get monkeypox , Researchers discovered it’s possible after identifying a case of monkeypox in a dog in Paris, France, according to a study published in The Lancet last week. The dog may have gotten the infection from its owners, the case study suggested, who are two men who have sex with men. Twelve days after they began exhibiting symptoms, lesions appeared on their Italian greyhound. Study authors suggest the dog may have gotten infected while sharing a bed with its owners. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says monkeypox can spread by touching fabrics like bedding. Armed with this information, here’s everything experts want you to know to keep your canine or feline friend safe.
Although The Lancet study shows it’s possible for pets to get monkeypox, health experts say it’s rare. “The risk is extremely low,” said Dr. Lori Teller, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “The way our pets would most likely catch it is through extremely close contact.” So far, there have been no reported cases in cats, guinea pigs or hamsters but Teller said research shows rabbits and mice can get the virus. A 2003 outbreak of monkeypox in the U.S. also showed prairie dogs can contract the virus, the CDC said. The CDC said potential signs of illness among pets include fatigue, lack of appetite, coughing, nasal secretions or crust, bloating and fever. However, “it’s important to keep in mind those are common symptoms of a lot of respiratory diseases or viral infections,” Teller said. Even monkeypox’s distinctive lesions, which may appear as a pimple- or blister-like rash, “can look like so many things If a rash or two other clinical symptoms appear on a pet within 21 days of exposure, the CDC urges people to notify their veterinarian to get a professional assessment.
Source: This news is originally published by ustoday