Monkeypox virus can be caught by animals, as in humans. To limit the spread of the disease, it is therefore useful to know if our pets can catch it (and risk transmitting it to other animals and humans) when we ourselves are infected, and if so, how to guard against it. ANSES has issued an initial opinion on this issue with some guidelines to follow.
The press release published on June 16 takes up what pre-exists in the scientific literature about monkeypox and warns in the preamble that there is very little for the moment and that “the conclusions of its expertise are subject to change“.
Dogs, cats, rabbits… who are most at risk?
The the most receptive animals would be rabbits (especially babies), and hares, described as “receptive and sensitive under experimental conditions”. Ditto for prairie dogs (but there are quite a few of them in France!) and squirrels, which are considered to be the animals most at risk, but which are not pets in France…
As for cats, serological studies have shown negative results, which would suggest that they are not at risk. Pet rodents (mice, brown rats, hamsters, etc.) are not very receptive. However, there is currently no information about dogs or ferrets.
Either way, preventive measures can be taken. If you are contaminated, have your pet looked after by a third person. In addition, if you cannot, “before each contact with your animal, wash your hands, then wear gloves and a single-use mask”, specifies ANSES.
By the end of the year, new expertise should complete this initial information.
Source : Handles
Read also:
- Covid 19: transmission to cats and dogs is very common
- Why climate change will increase virus transmission between species (therefore epidemics)
