WASHINGTON — After officials euthanized a dog owned by a Spanish nursing assistant infected with Ebola, some are concerned about the canine role in the transmission of the virus. A local veterinarian says there’s no need for alarm.
Veterinarian Dr. Katy Nelson, a.k.a. Dr. Paws, spoke to WTOP Wednesday about whether or not pet owners should be concerned about the possibility of Ebola transmission.
“We know that animals play a role in the transmission of Ebola virus. However, the animals that we know of that play a role in this are fruit bats and primates,” said Nelson. “From dogs, we have no proof whatsoever that you can contract Ebola, we have no proof whatsoever that dogs form active signs of disease.”
This week, public health authorities quarantined a Dallas, Texas nurse’s dog after she tested positive for Ebola. The nurse, 26-year-old Nina Pham, helped care for Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person diagnosed with the virus in the U.S.
Nelson said studies show that dogs and cats can be exposed to Ebola, but not necessarily form the disease, and cannot transfer it to people. She said the studies concentrated on dogs in the endemic areas of Africa, and 27 percent of them were found to have antibodies against Ebola.
“These are dogs that are roaming around, coming into contact with potential waste on the ground, potentially eating cadavers of animals that have died of Ebola virus.
