EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE - CENTRAL AFRICA: ABSENCE FROM CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
***************************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Tue 2 Sep 2014
Source: Star Africa [in French, trans. Mod.PB, edited]
http://fr.starafrica.com/actualites/le- ... n-rca.html
[NB: this report formed a part of: Ebola virus disease - West Africa (148): CDC, WHO, Nigeria, Liberia, more 20140903.2743746]
The Ebola virus is circulating in Central African wildlife, but conditions have perhaps not been met for an epidemic to occur, the director of the Pasteur Institute of Bangui, Emmanuel Nakoune Yandoko, said on Monday [1 Sep 2014]. For years, his institute has conducted research to understand why every year there is an outbreak of Ebola virus in the sub-region but not in the Central African Republic [CAR].
For him, the presence of antibodies in CAR citizens is preventing manifestation of Ebola in the country. "Through this study, we found that 13 per cent of the Pygmies had antibodies against Ebola virus, and 10 per cent of the non-Pygmy population living in the area also had antibodies." To answer the question of whether Ebola virus was circulating in CAR, rats, bats, monkeys and cane rats were captured and tested, and evidence of infection was found in the livers of these animals.
Prime minister Mahamat Kamoun said: "It is time to be alert to this serious outbreak of Ebola rampant in Africa."
--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts
<promed@promedmail.org>
[The hypothesis posited is that the immunological experience of CAR inhabitants is preventing outbreaks, even though the virus is circulating. It is possible, but more evidence is needed.
Is 10 per cent seroprevalence high, compared with that in the African countries that are suffering outbreaks? How does the prevalence and infection intensity in wildlife compare in CAR and in countries with epidemics?
The Ebola epidemic is clearly demonstrating the need for integrating disciplines such as epidemiology and disease ecology to be able to comprehend the dynamics of Ebola virus. Much research is needed. Only when a sound understanding of the mechanisms underlying the transmission dynamics of this disease is achieved will we be in a position to properly anticipate and control these devastating outbreaks. - Mod.PMB
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/66.]
Ebola | Infos, News und Hintergründe
Moderator: Moderatoren
-
Birgitt
- Moderator
- Beiträge: 35199
- Registriert: Di 2. Aug 2005, 22:52
- Wohnort: NRW / Südl. Rheinland
- Kontaktdaten:
Ebola in Zentralafrika - Antikörper bei Pygmäen
EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE - CENTRAL AFRICA (02): ABSENCE FROM CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, COMMENT
*****************************************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
[1]
Date: Thu 4 Sep 2014
From: Gregory Kelly <gka25@sfu.ca> [edited]
re: EVD - Central Africa: absence from CAR 20140904.2748411
-----------------------------------------------------------
They (Central African Republic [CAR]) need to be talking to mathematical epidemiologists. From what I have read, this strain of Ebola has an R0 slightly over 1 (a little more than one person gets infected from each infection, assuming an entirely susceptible population). The basic reproduction number (R0) is only part of the equation, and in the case of CAR, they are working with a population that is not entirely susceptible. This means they need to be evaluating their effective reproductive number (R).
Typically it is calculated by R0*S, where S is the susceptible population. If R0 is only slightly more than 1, a susceptible population of 90 percent or less may be sufficient to reduce the effective reproductive number to less than 1 -- the infection dies out.
Moreover, the medical community needs to be looking at whether or not the virulence of this strain of Ebola is _less_ than previous strains, not greater. There is a perverse evolutionary side effect to directly transmitted strains evolving to become less virulent -- they become more easily transmissible because the host is ambulatory longer. Therefore R0 increases and the virus can be harder to contain.
--
Gregory Kelly
<gka25@sfu.ca>
******
[2]
Date: Thu 4 Sep 2014
From: Hugh Baker <drhugh@sympatico.ca> [edited]
Is it likely that there are low-pathogenicity strains of Ebola virus in circulation among "bush meat" species? A sort of edible vaccine?
--
Hugh J Baker, DVM
<drhugh@sympatico.ca>
[Thanks for the comments. Both raise interesting questions that will be worth exploring if appropriate data can be gathered. - Mod.PMB
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/66.]
*****************************************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
[1]
Date: Thu 4 Sep 2014
From: Gregory Kelly <gka25@sfu.ca> [edited]
re: EVD - Central Africa: absence from CAR 20140904.2748411
-----------------------------------------------------------
They (Central African Republic [CAR]) need to be talking to mathematical epidemiologists. From what I have read, this strain of Ebola has an R0 slightly over 1 (a little more than one person gets infected from each infection, assuming an entirely susceptible population). The basic reproduction number (R0) is only part of the equation, and in the case of CAR, they are working with a population that is not entirely susceptible. This means they need to be evaluating their effective reproductive number (R).
Typically it is calculated by R0*S, where S is the susceptible population. If R0 is only slightly more than 1, a susceptible population of 90 percent or less may be sufficient to reduce the effective reproductive number to less than 1 -- the infection dies out.
Moreover, the medical community needs to be looking at whether or not the virulence of this strain of Ebola is _less_ than previous strains, not greater. There is a perverse evolutionary side effect to directly transmitted strains evolving to become less virulent -- they become more easily transmissible because the host is ambulatory longer. Therefore R0 increases and the virus can be harder to contain.
--
Gregory Kelly
<gka25@sfu.ca>
******
[2]
Date: Thu 4 Sep 2014
From: Hugh Baker <drhugh@sympatico.ca> [edited]
Is it likely that there are low-pathogenicity strains of Ebola virus in circulation among "bush meat" species? A sort of edible vaccine?
--
Hugh J Baker, DVM
<drhugh@sympatico.ca>
[Thanks for the comments. Both raise interesting questions that will be worth exploring if appropriate data can be gathered. - Mod.PMB
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/66.]
-
Birgitt
- Moderator
- Beiträge: 35199
- Registriert: Di 2. Aug 2005, 22:52
- Wohnort: NRW / Südl. Rheinland
- Kontaktdaten:
Ebola - Tierreservoir
EBOLAVIRUS, ANIMAL RESERVOIR: OIE
*********************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Fri 10 Oct 2014
Source: OIE press release [summ., edited]
http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/fr/Me ... _Final.pdf
[The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has issued on 6 Oct 2014 a technical information sheet on Ebola virus disease (EVD) outlining epidemiological observations and scientific knowledge of the disease including the animal reservoir. The information has been prepared and reviewed by internationally regarded scientific experts, including experts from OIE global Reference Centres and Working Group on wildlife, and was subsequently endorsed by the OIE Scientific Commission on Animal Diseases. We herewith copy for subscribers' convenience the animal-related segments, "Natural hosts" and "Transmission to humans". - Mod.AS]
Natural hosts
-------------
Field studies and epidemiological surveys in Africa have demonstrated widespread antibody prevalence to Ebolaviruses in fruit bats suggesting that fruit bats may be natural hosts for EBOV. When bats and other vertebrate species were experimentally inoculated, only bats became infected and shed virus in faeces without showing any clinical signs.
Monkeys are not considered as natural hosts because of their high sensitivity to the virus and their high mortality rate when infected.
The related Marburg virus has been isolated from fruit bats (_Rousettus aegyptiacus_) in Uganda.
The role of pigs in EVD epidemiology is unclear. There is no evidence that domestic animals play an active epidemiological role in the transmission of the disease to humans.
Transmission to humans
----------------------
Ebola is a disease transmitted from wild animals to humans most likely through hunting and collection of sick or dead wild animals and handling or consumption of uncooked bush meat. Although the source of infection for non-human primates often remains unclear, most evidence indicates direct infection from one or more natural hosts. In rural areas fruit bats are a popular source of forest meat for humans and are prepared by hand to be dried, smoked and/or cooked. Infection could also be transmitted to humans by consumption of forest fruits contaminated with bat saliva or faeces.
It is recommended that in affected countries contact with wild animals, including bats, rodents or monkeys should be avoided and that communities in contact with these animals practice basic hygiene measures such as regular hand washing at all times. The hunting of susceptible wild animal species listed above for food in affected countries should be avoided.
Human to human transmission occurs through contact with body fluids of an infected person. It is thought that the current epidemics throughout West Africa originated from a single animal-human transmission event that occurred in the forest at the border between Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[The following list of reported Ebola virus infections in animals has been derived from Ref 1 (for the omitted references, please go to the paper, available free online).
"A total of 51 surveyed locations reporting infections in animals were identified in the literature since the discovery of the disease (Table at http://elifesciences.org/content/3/e04395/T2, map at http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04395.007). These comprised 17 infections in gorillas (_Gorilla gorilla_), 9 infections in chimpanzees (_Pan troglodytes_), 18 in OWFB [Old World fruit bat] and 2 in duikers (_Cephalophus_ spp.). A large proportion of the great ape cases originated from the ROC [Republic of Congo]/Gabon border, coinciding with the main known distributions of both chimpanzees and gorillas and representing a period of well-documented great ape Ebola outbreaks in and around the Lossi Animal Sanctuary. All animal isolations of Ebola viruses have come from countries that have also reported index cases of human outbreaks, with the exception of several seropositive bats from a survey in southern Ghana."
References:
1. D M Pigott, N Golding, A Mylne, Z Huang et al (2014). Mapping the zoonotic niche of Ebola virus disease in Africa. eLife 2014;3:e04395. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04395
2. S Funk & P Piot (2014). Epidemiology: Mapping Ebola in wild animals for better disease control. eLife 2014;3:e04565. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04565
- Mod.AS
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/6075.]
*********************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Fri 10 Oct 2014
Source: OIE press release [summ., edited]
http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/fr/Me ... _Final.pdf
[The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has issued on 6 Oct 2014 a technical information sheet on Ebola virus disease (EVD) outlining epidemiological observations and scientific knowledge of the disease including the animal reservoir. The information has been prepared and reviewed by internationally regarded scientific experts, including experts from OIE global Reference Centres and Working Group on wildlife, and was subsequently endorsed by the OIE Scientific Commission on Animal Diseases. We herewith copy for subscribers' convenience the animal-related segments, "Natural hosts" and "Transmission to humans". - Mod.AS]
Natural hosts
-------------
Field studies and epidemiological surveys in Africa have demonstrated widespread antibody prevalence to Ebolaviruses in fruit bats suggesting that fruit bats may be natural hosts for EBOV. When bats and other vertebrate species were experimentally inoculated, only bats became infected and shed virus in faeces without showing any clinical signs.
Monkeys are not considered as natural hosts because of their high sensitivity to the virus and their high mortality rate when infected.
The related Marburg virus has been isolated from fruit bats (_Rousettus aegyptiacus_) in Uganda.
The role of pigs in EVD epidemiology is unclear. There is no evidence that domestic animals play an active epidemiological role in the transmission of the disease to humans.
Transmission to humans
----------------------
Ebola is a disease transmitted from wild animals to humans most likely through hunting and collection of sick or dead wild animals and handling or consumption of uncooked bush meat. Although the source of infection for non-human primates often remains unclear, most evidence indicates direct infection from one or more natural hosts. In rural areas fruit bats are a popular source of forest meat for humans and are prepared by hand to be dried, smoked and/or cooked. Infection could also be transmitted to humans by consumption of forest fruits contaminated with bat saliva or faeces.
It is recommended that in affected countries contact with wild animals, including bats, rodents or monkeys should be avoided and that communities in contact with these animals practice basic hygiene measures such as regular hand washing at all times. The hunting of susceptible wild animal species listed above for food in affected countries should be avoided.
Human to human transmission occurs through contact with body fluids of an infected person. It is thought that the current epidemics throughout West Africa originated from a single animal-human transmission event that occurred in the forest at the border between Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[The following list of reported Ebola virus infections in animals has been derived from Ref 1 (for the omitted references, please go to the paper, available free online).
"A total of 51 surveyed locations reporting infections in animals were identified in the literature since the discovery of the disease (Table at http://elifesciences.org/content/3/e04395/T2, map at http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04395.007). These comprised 17 infections in gorillas (_Gorilla gorilla_), 9 infections in chimpanzees (_Pan troglodytes_), 18 in OWFB [Old World fruit bat] and 2 in duikers (_Cephalophus_ spp.). A large proportion of the great ape cases originated from the ROC [Republic of Congo]/Gabon border, coinciding with the main known distributions of both chimpanzees and gorillas and representing a period of well-documented great ape Ebola outbreaks in and around the Lossi Animal Sanctuary. All animal isolations of Ebola viruses have come from countries that have also reported index cases of human outbreaks, with the exception of several seropositive bats from a survey in southern Ghana."
References:
1. D M Pigott, N Golding, A Mylne, Z Huang et al (2014). Mapping the zoonotic niche of Ebola virus disease in Africa. eLife 2014;3:e04395. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04395
2. S Funk & P Piot (2014). Epidemiology: Mapping Ebola in wild animals for better disease control. eLife 2014;3:e04565. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04565
- Mod.AS
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/6075.]
-
Birgitt
- Moderator
- Beiträge: 35199
- Registriert: Di 2. Aug 2005, 22:52
- Wohnort: NRW / Südl. Rheinland
- Kontaktdaten:
Ebola - Tierreservoir
EBOLAVIRUS, ANIMAL RESERVOIR (02): SPAIN, DOG SUSPECTED
*******************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Sat 11 Oct 2014
From: Gian lorenzo D'Alterio <gianlorenzod@yahoo.it>
Re: Ebolavirus, animal reservoir: OIE [archived 20141010.2851028]
-----------------------------------------------
One wishes that the Spanish health authorities had had access to this type of information before deciding to euthanize the pet dog belonging to the Spanish nurse sadly affected by Ebola virus.
Beside any ethical consideration, one is left wondering what level of trust can be given to an health authority that acts regardless of the scientific evidence when faced by a critical situation such as the sporadic Ebola cases occurring outside of Africa.
--
Gian Lorenzo D'Alterio
DVM MSc PhD FRCVS
Medico Veterinario
Farnese, VT
Italy
<gianlorenzod@yahoo.it>
[Dr D'Alterio refers to OIE's document as a reference according to which the nurse's dog should not have been euthanized. Most likely, he refers specifically to the following statement in the said document: "There is no evidence that domestic animals play an active epidemiological role in the transmission of the disease to humans."
It will be interesting to note whether the Spanish health authorities, while aware of the scarce scientific knowledge on the issue, may have based their difficult decision to euthanize the dog upon the "precautionary principle" or "precautionary approach." In short, the "precautionary principle" is a notion which supports taking protective action before there is complete scientific proof of a risk; that is, action should not be delayed simply because full scientific information is lacking. This principle has been an essential part of the international agreement (Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, the "SPS Agreement"), of which OIE is a signatory, an essential part thereof being the precautionary principle.
In some legal systems, as in the law of the European Union, the application of the precautionary principle has been made a statutory requirement in some areas of law.
The Spanish authorities could have been cognizant of OIE's document when discussing the dog issue before action was taken. OIE issued the document, "technical information sheet on Ebola virus disease outlining epidemiological observations and scientific knowledge of the disease including the animal reservoir," on 6 Oct 2014, the very day when the nurse was found positive for Ebola virus.
The potential role of dogs in Ebola epidemiology has been subject to a study, the results of which were published in 2005. For subscribers' convenience, its abstract is copied below:
"Ebola Virus Antibody Prevalence in Dogs and Human Risk. Lois Allela, Olivier Bourry, Regis Pouillot, Andre Delicat et al. (2005). Emerging Infectious Diseases 11 (3) pp 385-390.
Abstract
During the 2001-2002 outbreak in Gabon, we observed that several dogs were highly exposed to Ebola virus by eating infected dead animals. To examine whether these animals became infected with Ebola virus, we sampled 439 dogs and screened them by Ebola virus-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G assay, antigen detection, and viral polymerase chain reaction amplification. Seven (8.9 percent) of 79 samples from the 2 main towns, 15 (15.2 percent) of 99 samples from Mekambo, and 40 (25.2 percent) of 159 samples from villages in the Ebola virus-epidemic area had detectable Ebola virus-IgG, compared to only 2 (2 percent) of 102 samples from France. Among dogs from villages with both infected animal carcasses and human cases, seroprevalence was 31.8 percent. A significant positive direct association existed between seroprevalence and the distances to the Ebola virus-epidemic area. This study suggests that dogs can be infected by Ebola virus and that the putative infection is asymptomatic.
The full paper is available (free) on line at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/11/3/pdfs/04-0981.pdf. - Mod.AS
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/43.]
*******************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Sat 11 Oct 2014
From: Gian lorenzo D'Alterio <gianlorenzod@yahoo.it>
Re: Ebolavirus, animal reservoir: OIE [archived 20141010.2851028]
-----------------------------------------------
One wishes that the Spanish health authorities had had access to this type of information before deciding to euthanize the pet dog belonging to the Spanish nurse sadly affected by Ebola virus.
Beside any ethical consideration, one is left wondering what level of trust can be given to an health authority that acts regardless of the scientific evidence when faced by a critical situation such as the sporadic Ebola cases occurring outside of Africa.
--
Gian Lorenzo D'Alterio
DVM MSc PhD FRCVS
Medico Veterinario
Farnese, VT
Italy
<gianlorenzod@yahoo.it>
[Dr D'Alterio refers to OIE's document as a reference according to which the nurse's dog should not have been euthanized. Most likely, he refers specifically to the following statement in the said document: "There is no evidence that domestic animals play an active epidemiological role in the transmission of the disease to humans."
It will be interesting to note whether the Spanish health authorities, while aware of the scarce scientific knowledge on the issue, may have based their difficult decision to euthanize the dog upon the "precautionary principle" or "precautionary approach." In short, the "precautionary principle" is a notion which supports taking protective action before there is complete scientific proof of a risk; that is, action should not be delayed simply because full scientific information is lacking. This principle has been an essential part of the international agreement (Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, the "SPS Agreement"), of which OIE is a signatory, an essential part thereof being the precautionary principle.
In some legal systems, as in the law of the European Union, the application of the precautionary principle has been made a statutory requirement in some areas of law.
The Spanish authorities could have been cognizant of OIE's document when discussing the dog issue before action was taken. OIE issued the document, "technical information sheet on Ebola virus disease outlining epidemiological observations and scientific knowledge of the disease including the animal reservoir," on 6 Oct 2014, the very day when the nurse was found positive for Ebola virus.
The potential role of dogs in Ebola epidemiology has been subject to a study, the results of which were published in 2005. For subscribers' convenience, its abstract is copied below:
"Ebola Virus Antibody Prevalence in Dogs and Human Risk. Lois Allela, Olivier Bourry, Regis Pouillot, Andre Delicat et al. (2005). Emerging Infectious Diseases 11 (3) pp 385-390.
Abstract
During the 2001-2002 outbreak in Gabon, we observed that several dogs were highly exposed to Ebola virus by eating infected dead animals. To examine whether these animals became infected with Ebola virus, we sampled 439 dogs and screened them by Ebola virus-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G assay, antigen detection, and viral polymerase chain reaction amplification. Seven (8.9 percent) of 79 samples from the 2 main towns, 15 (15.2 percent) of 99 samples from Mekambo, and 40 (25.2 percent) of 159 samples from villages in the Ebola virus-epidemic area had detectable Ebola virus-IgG, compared to only 2 (2 percent) of 102 samples from France. Among dogs from villages with both infected animal carcasses and human cases, seroprevalence was 31.8 percent. A significant positive direct association existed between seroprevalence and the distances to the Ebola virus-epidemic area. This study suggests that dogs can be infected by Ebola virus and that the putative infection is asymptomatic.
The full paper is available (free) on line at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/11/3/pdfs/04-0981.pdf. - Mod.AS
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/43.]
-
Birgitt
- Moderator
- Beiträge: 35199
- Registriert: Di 2. Aug 2005, 22:52
- Wohnort: NRW / Südl. Rheinland
- Kontaktdaten:
Ebola - Tierreservoir
EBOLAVIRUS, ANIMAL RESERVOIR (03): USA, CANINE QUARANTINED
**********************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
[1]
Date: Wed 15 Oct 2014
Source: 22News WWLP [edited]
http://wwlp.com/2014/10/15/still-no-rep ... ith-ebola/
In Dallas, Texas, health officials are keeping an eye on both [the 1st Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital nurse infected with Ebola] and her dog. [The nurse] is doing well. Her dog has also been quarantined for observation. However, in Spain, a dog belonging to an Ebola patient was euthanized. Some people worry these very different approaches to pets may indicate that health officials still know very little about stopping this deadly virus. [A resident] of West Springfield [Massachusetts] told 22News, "Obviously we are doing something. Our health system is somehow messed up. There's something going on with miscommunication, so I'm a little scared." The Centers for Disease Control said at this point, there have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola, or being able to spread Ebola to people. President Barack Obama vowed Wednesday [15 Oct 2014] that his administration would respond in a "much more aggressive way" to cases of Ebola in the United States and warned that in an age of frequent travel the disease could spread globally if the world doesn't respond to the "raging epidemic in West Africa."
--
Communicated by:
Catherine M. Brown, DVM, MSc, MPH
State Public Health Veterinarian
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Hinton State Laboratory
<catherine.brown@state.ma.us>
******
[2]
Date: Thu 16 Oct 2014
Source: The Eagle [summ., edited]
http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/texa ... db72a.html
Texas A&M specialists advising on care of Ebola patient's dog
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The dean of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences said Wednesday [15 Oct 2014] that A&M specialists are helping to monitor Bentley, the year-old King Charles Spaniel owned by the 26-year-old Dallas nurse who has been hospitalized with the Ebola virus, and will develop plans for handling Ebola-exposed animals in the future.
Dr. Eleanor Green said at a press conference that the A&M specialists' "role at this point has been to provide expert advice and counsel to teams of people who are providing the best route for handling this dog," she said. "We have been part of those discussions in determining the best handling of this dog in addition to developing guidelines and protocols for animals that might become affected. In other words, we're going to be ready."
There have been no reports of dogs who have shown signs of Ebola or animals who have transmitted Ebola, but because Bentley is the 1st dog exposed to the virus in the United States, vets are working with extreme caution and treating him as if he were infected.
"We're going to treat him with exactly the same methodology that we would with the people in a hospital with a biocontained area with personal protective equipment and the same manner they would handle an infected human patient," she said. "Therefore, we can assure the public is not at risk and we can assure Bentley is taken care of in a humane way."
Although she did not say the exact number of Texas A&M veterinary specialists monitoring [the dog] in quarantine at Hensley Field, a decommissioned naval air base in Dallas, she said they will all be incorporating the philosophy behind Texas A&M's "One Health Initiative" into their monitoring practices. One Health is a collaboration between Texas A&M colleges that started in 2011 with the vision of improving the overall health and sustainability of humans, animals and the environment. "One Health refers to that inextricable link between animal, human and environmental health," Green said. "Bentley and his owner demonstrate this."
Spanish authorities euthanized a dog owned by an Ebola patient last week in the interest of public safety, but specialists in Dallas are handling the case differently. Green said A&M vets are putting One Health to work by taking Bentley's health just as seriously as doctors are taking [the nurse]'s in order to keep her spirits up. "It will be better for her if she has the confidence that Bentley is being well taken care of, too. That will make her better," she said. "We know there are very positive health effects from the interaction between animals and people."
Green said one of the concerns health care specialists have is that pet owners will put their animal's well-being in front of their own and might hesitate in reporting symptoms for fear of losing their animal. She said the handling of Bentley will soothe those fears.
"We want to make sure Bentley is well taken care of and that people have the confidence that if they are exposed to Ebola or show clinical signs of Ebola that they will self-report early knowing they will not be putting their household at risk," she said.
Green remained adamant that the public needs to know it is highly unlikely that dogs will be at risk of transmitting the virus and that the Texas A&M veterinarians are using this situation to learn as much as they can about transmission and containment.
"There's a lot of unanswered questions," Green said. "Our job now is to answer them."
[Byline: Sam Peshek]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[For the above and additional relevant information from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, please go to http://vetmed.tamu.edu/ebola-information. - Mod.AS]
******
[3]
Date: Thu 16 Oct 2014
Source: McClatchy DC [edited]
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/10/16/2 ... p=/99/200/
Infected nurse's quarantined dog may inspire Ebola pet protocols
----------------------------------------------------------------
Bentley, the dog owned by the Ebola-stricken Texas nurse, is apparently thriving under quarantine -- being fed, cared for and played with by Dallas workers in full protective gear. In the process, the cute King Charles Spaniel has become a media phenomenon, with Twitter followers monitoring his progress through the city of Dallas feed @100Marilla. His owner, who cared for the 1st US Ebola victim at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, was transferred Thursday [16 Oct 2014] to the National Institutes of Health in Maryland. But medical experts still are considering how to treat pets, as public concern about the Ebola virus explodes and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the US Department of Agriculture prepare pet protocols. In Spain, the dog belonging to a nurse ill with Ebola was euthanized, causing an outcry among animal lovers. The US approach has not taken that direction and for now, the attention on the only pet so far apparently exposed to the virus in this country has been to monitor him under the 21-day quarantine established by the CDC for humans. "He's doing well. He's sleeping well. He's eating well," said C.C. Gonzalez-Kurz, public information officer for the city of Dallas, which has custody of Bentley.
According to Christine Hoang, a veterinarian who is an assistant director of the American Veterinary Medical Association, "We have no known evidence that dogs will be clinically infected with the Ebola virus." She is working with a team of government and health industry officials to develop a protocol for dealing with future situations. "Veterinary and public health officials should evaluate and take appropriate protections," she said. In the case of Bentley, "basic bio-security measures are being employed but there is no protocol yet." Hoang said that the experts are preparing their recommendations and the protocol could be ready as soon as next week.
It has been a difficult time for the CDC. "Studies have shown that dogs can have an immune response to Ebola, but there have been no reports of pet dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola or of passing the disease to other animals or people," said Kristen Nordlund, a CDC health communications specialist. "In a situation where there is a dog or cat in the home of an Ebola patient, CDC recommends public health officials evaluate the animal's risk of exposure." One study tested dogs during the 2001-2002 Ebola outbreak in Gabon, when some of them were observed eating infected dead animals, according to CDC Director Thomas Frieden. "Of the 337 dogs from various towns and villages, 9 to 25 percent showed antibodies to Ebola, a sign they were infected or exposed to the virus," he said. Antibodies are created by the body to fight infection but do not indicate that a virus will be transmitted.
Bentley is being cared for at Hensley Field, a former military base in Dallas. The response from dog lovers has been so great that the city of Dallas has joined forces with a nonprofit, Dallas Companion Animal Project, to create a fund, the Dallas Pet Emergency Transition Services, to help pay for the care of pets affected by emergency events, including Ebola exposure. In a tweet Thursday [16 Oct 2014], followers learned the latest: #Bentleyupdate! Bentley is settling in, getting used to new routines. The cutie played w/ new toy and snuggled w/ vet.
[Byline: Maria Recio]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
******
[4]
Date: Fri 17 Oct 2014
Source: CDC Q&A [updated 13 Oct 2014, edited]
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/transmission/qas-pets.html
Questions and Answers about Ebola and Pets
------------------------------------------
The ongoing epidemic of Ebola in West Africa has raised several questions about how the disease affects the animal population, and in particular, the risk to household pets. While the information available suggests that the virus may be found in several kinds of animals, CDC, the US Department of Agriculture, and the American Veterinary Medical Association do not believe that pets are at significant risk for Ebola in the United States.
1. How are animals involved in Ebola outbreaks?
Because the natural reservoir host of Ebola has not yet been confirmed, the way in which the virus 1st appears in a human at the start of an outbreak is unknown. However, scientists believe that the 1st patient becomes infected through contact with an infected animal, such as a fruit bat or primate (apes and monkeys), which is called a spillover event. Person-to-person transmission follows and can lead to large numbers of affected persons. In some past Ebola outbreaks, primates were also affected by Ebola, and multiple spillover events occurred when people touched or ate infected primates. In the current West African epidemic, animals have not been found to be a factor in ongoing Ebola transmission.
2. How does Ebola spread?
When infection occurs in humans, the virus can be spread in several ways to others. Ebola is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose, or mouth) with blood or body fluids (including but not limited to urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, and semen) of a person who is sick with Ebola objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with the virus. Ebola is not spread through the air or by water, or in general, by food. However, in Africa, Ebola may be spread as a result of handling bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food) and contact with infected bats.
Only a few species of mammals (for example, humans, monkeys, and apes) have shown the ability to become infected with and spread Ebola virus. There is no evidence that mosquitos or other insects can transmit Ebola virus.
3. Can dogs get infected or sick with Ebola?
At this time, there have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola or of being able to spread Ebola to people or other animals. Even in areas in Africa where Ebola is present, there have been no reports of dogs and cats becoming sick with Ebola. There is limited evidence that dogs become infected with Ebola virus, but there is no evidence that they develop disease.
4. Here in the United States, are our dogs and cats at risk of becoming sick with Ebola?
The risk of an Ebola outbreak affecting multiple people in the United States is very low. Therefore, the risk to pets is also very low, as they would have to come into contact with blood and body fluids of a person with Ebola. Even in areas in Africa where Ebola is present, there have been no reports of dogs and cats becoming sick with Ebola.
5. Can I get Ebola from my dog or cat?
At this time, there have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola or of being able to spread Ebola to people or animals. The chances of a dog or cat being exposed to Ebola virus in the United States is very low as they would have to come into contact with blood and body fluids of a symptomatic person sick with Ebola.
6. Can my pet's body, fur, or paws spread Ebola to a person?
We do not yet know whether or not a pet's body, paws, or fur can pick up and spread Ebola to people or other animals. It is important to keep people and animals away from blood or body fluids of a person with symptoms of Ebola infection.
7. What if there is a pet in the home of an Ebola patient?
CDC recommends that public health officials in collaboration with a veterinarian evaluate the pet's risk of exposure to the virus (close contact or exposure to blood or body fluids of an Ebola patient). Based on this evaluation as well as the specific situation, local and state human and animal health officials will determine how the pet should be handled.
8. Can I get my dog or cat tested for Ebola?
There would not be any reason to test a dog or cat for Ebola if there was no exposure to a person infected with Ebola. Currently, routine testing for Ebola is not available for pets.
9. What are the requirements for bringing pets or other animals into the United States from West Africa?
CDC regulations require that dogs and cats imported into the United States be healthy. Dogs must be vaccinated against rabies before arrival into the United States. Monkeys and African rodents are not allowed to be imported as pets under any circumstances.
Each state and US Territory has its own rules for pet ownership and importation, and these rules may be different from federal regulations. Airlines may have additional requirements.
10. Can monkeys spread Ebola?
Yes, monkeys are at risk for Ebola. Symptoms of Ebola infection in monkeys include fever, decreased appetite, and sudden death. Monkeys should not be allowed to have contact with anyone who may have Ebola. Healthy monkeys already living in the United States and without exposure to a person infected with Ebola are not at risk for spreading Ebola.
11. Can bats spread Ebola?
Fruit bats in Africa are considered to be a natural reservoir for Ebola. Bats in North America are not known to carry Ebola and so CDC considers the risk of an Ebola outbreak from bats occurring in the United States to be very low. However, bats are known to carry rabies and other diseases here in the United States. To reduce the risk of disease transmission, never attempt to touch a bat, living or dead.
12. Where can I find more information about Ebola and pet dogs and cats?
CDC is currently working with the US Department of Agriculture, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and many other partners to develop additional guidance for the US pet population. Additional information and guidance will be posted on this website as well as partner websites as soon as it becomes available.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[According to the CDC's useful Q&A above, the only animal species about which factual data concerning their clinical ebolavirus infection and about their being a source for human infection is available, are monkeys and African fruit bats. When addressing dogs/cats, the responses are characterised by the phrases "not yet been confirmed", "unknown", "at this time", "we do not yet know", and finally "routine testing for Ebola is not available for pets".
A key statement is: "There is limited evidence that dogs become infected with Ebola virus, but there is no evidence that they develop disease". This means that the absence of clinical signs should not be interpreted as absence of infection. There are ample examples of species who may become non-clinical carriers of various disease agents, including zoonotic ones. We just don't know yet if a dog or a cat can become subclinical vectors.
The current lacuna in the scientific knowledge on the zoonotic aspects of the Ebola and other filoviruses is alarming. Dogs have become subject to public concerns because the 1st ex-African Ebola cases involved pet owners; other species, within and outside the endemic zone in Africa, should not be excluded, nor the virus' transmission route(s) and further epidemiological data. The following abstract of a 2012 paper will serve as demonstration (see reference):
"Ebola viruses (EBOV) cause often fatal hemorrhagic fever in several species of simian primates including human. While fruit bats are considered natural reservoir, involvement of other species in EBOV transmission is unclear. In 2009, Reston-EBOV was the 1st EBOV detected in swine with indicated transmission to humans. In-contact transmission of Zaire-EBOV (ZEBOV) between pigs was demonstrated experimentally. Here we show ZEBOV transmission from pigs to cynomolgus macaques without direct contact. Interestingly, transmission between macaques in similar housing conditions was never observed. Piglets inoculated oro-nasally with ZEBOV were transferred to the room housing macaques in an open inaccessible cage system. All macaques became infected. Infectious virus was detected in oro-nasal swabs of piglets, and in blood, swabs, and tissues of macaques. This is the 1st report of experimental interspecies virus transmission, with the macaques also used as a human surrogate. Our finding may influence prevention and control measures during EBOV outbreaks".
The said paper was covered in ProMED-mail posting archive # 20121116.1412991; Mod.CP's comment therein said that "the described experiment demonstrated the susceptibility of pigs to Zaire Ebolavirus but aerosol transmission from pigs to primates had yet to be demonstrated under natural environment conditions", and that "the evidence that pigs play a role in the transmission of Ebolavirus, other than Reston Ebolavirus, remains circumstantial".
Mod.MHJ suggested pig's urine as source of disease to macaques.
Have these experiments been pursued?
CDC recommends (answer 7) that "public health officials in collaboration with a veterinarian evaluate the pet's risk of exposure to the virus (close contact or exposure to blood or body fluids of an Ebola patient). Based on this evaluation as well as the specific situation, local and state human and animal health officials will determine how the pet should be handled". This may mean that decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
An update of the guidelines will be posted by ProMED-mail as soon as it becomes available.
Reference:
Hana M Weingartl, Carissa Embury-Hyatt, Charles Nfon, Anders Leung, Greg Smith, Gary Kobinger. Transmission of Ebola virus from pigs to non-human primates. Scientific Reports 2, Article number: 811 doi:10.1038/srep00811; http://www.nature.com/srep/2012/121115/ ... 00811.html.
- Mod.AS]
**********************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
[1]
Date: Wed 15 Oct 2014
Source: 22News WWLP [edited]
http://wwlp.com/2014/10/15/still-no-rep ... ith-ebola/
In Dallas, Texas, health officials are keeping an eye on both [the 1st Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital nurse infected with Ebola] and her dog. [The nurse] is doing well. Her dog has also been quarantined for observation. However, in Spain, a dog belonging to an Ebola patient was euthanized. Some people worry these very different approaches to pets may indicate that health officials still know very little about stopping this deadly virus. [A resident] of West Springfield [Massachusetts] told 22News, "Obviously we are doing something. Our health system is somehow messed up. There's something going on with miscommunication, so I'm a little scared." The Centers for Disease Control said at this point, there have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola, or being able to spread Ebola to people. President Barack Obama vowed Wednesday [15 Oct 2014] that his administration would respond in a "much more aggressive way" to cases of Ebola in the United States and warned that in an age of frequent travel the disease could spread globally if the world doesn't respond to the "raging epidemic in West Africa."
--
Communicated by:
Catherine M. Brown, DVM, MSc, MPH
State Public Health Veterinarian
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Hinton State Laboratory
<catherine.brown@state.ma.us>
******
[2]
Date: Thu 16 Oct 2014
Source: The Eagle [summ., edited]
http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/texa ... db72a.html
Texas A&M specialists advising on care of Ebola patient's dog
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The dean of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences said Wednesday [15 Oct 2014] that A&M specialists are helping to monitor Bentley, the year-old King Charles Spaniel owned by the 26-year-old Dallas nurse who has been hospitalized with the Ebola virus, and will develop plans for handling Ebola-exposed animals in the future.
Dr. Eleanor Green said at a press conference that the A&M specialists' "role at this point has been to provide expert advice and counsel to teams of people who are providing the best route for handling this dog," she said. "We have been part of those discussions in determining the best handling of this dog in addition to developing guidelines and protocols for animals that might become affected. In other words, we're going to be ready."
There have been no reports of dogs who have shown signs of Ebola or animals who have transmitted Ebola, but because Bentley is the 1st dog exposed to the virus in the United States, vets are working with extreme caution and treating him as if he were infected.
"We're going to treat him with exactly the same methodology that we would with the people in a hospital with a biocontained area with personal protective equipment and the same manner they would handle an infected human patient," she said. "Therefore, we can assure the public is not at risk and we can assure Bentley is taken care of in a humane way."
Although she did not say the exact number of Texas A&M veterinary specialists monitoring [the dog] in quarantine at Hensley Field, a decommissioned naval air base in Dallas, she said they will all be incorporating the philosophy behind Texas A&M's "One Health Initiative" into their monitoring practices. One Health is a collaboration between Texas A&M colleges that started in 2011 with the vision of improving the overall health and sustainability of humans, animals and the environment. "One Health refers to that inextricable link between animal, human and environmental health," Green said. "Bentley and his owner demonstrate this."
Spanish authorities euthanized a dog owned by an Ebola patient last week in the interest of public safety, but specialists in Dallas are handling the case differently. Green said A&M vets are putting One Health to work by taking Bentley's health just as seriously as doctors are taking [the nurse]'s in order to keep her spirits up. "It will be better for her if she has the confidence that Bentley is being well taken care of, too. That will make her better," she said. "We know there are very positive health effects from the interaction between animals and people."
Green said one of the concerns health care specialists have is that pet owners will put their animal's well-being in front of their own and might hesitate in reporting symptoms for fear of losing their animal. She said the handling of Bentley will soothe those fears.
"We want to make sure Bentley is well taken care of and that people have the confidence that if they are exposed to Ebola or show clinical signs of Ebola that they will self-report early knowing they will not be putting their household at risk," she said.
Green remained adamant that the public needs to know it is highly unlikely that dogs will be at risk of transmitting the virus and that the Texas A&M veterinarians are using this situation to learn as much as they can about transmission and containment.
"There's a lot of unanswered questions," Green said. "Our job now is to answer them."
[Byline: Sam Peshek]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[For the above and additional relevant information from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, please go to http://vetmed.tamu.edu/ebola-information. - Mod.AS]
******
[3]
Date: Thu 16 Oct 2014
Source: McClatchy DC [edited]
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/10/16/2 ... p=/99/200/
Infected nurse's quarantined dog may inspire Ebola pet protocols
----------------------------------------------------------------
Bentley, the dog owned by the Ebola-stricken Texas nurse, is apparently thriving under quarantine -- being fed, cared for and played with by Dallas workers in full protective gear. In the process, the cute King Charles Spaniel has become a media phenomenon, with Twitter followers monitoring his progress through the city of Dallas feed @100Marilla. His owner, who cared for the 1st US Ebola victim at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, was transferred Thursday [16 Oct 2014] to the National Institutes of Health in Maryland. But medical experts still are considering how to treat pets, as public concern about the Ebola virus explodes and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the US Department of Agriculture prepare pet protocols. In Spain, the dog belonging to a nurse ill with Ebola was euthanized, causing an outcry among animal lovers. The US approach has not taken that direction and for now, the attention on the only pet so far apparently exposed to the virus in this country has been to monitor him under the 21-day quarantine established by the CDC for humans. "He's doing well. He's sleeping well. He's eating well," said C.C. Gonzalez-Kurz, public information officer for the city of Dallas, which has custody of Bentley.
According to Christine Hoang, a veterinarian who is an assistant director of the American Veterinary Medical Association, "We have no known evidence that dogs will be clinically infected with the Ebola virus." She is working with a team of government and health industry officials to develop a protocol for dealing with future situations. "Veterinary and public health officials should evaluate and take appropriate protections," she said. In the case of Bentley, "basic bio-security measures are being employed but there is no protocol yet." Hoang said that the experts are preparing their recommendations and the protocol could be ready as soon as next week.
It has been a difficult time for the CDC. "Studies have shown that dogs can have an immune response to Ebola, but there have been no reports of pet dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola or of passing the disease to other animals or people," said Kristen Nordlund, a CDC health communications specialist. "In a situation where there is a dog or cat in the home of an Ebola patient, CDC recommends public health officials evaluate the animal's risk of exposure." One study tested dogs during the 2001-2002 Ebola outbreak in Gabon, when some of them were observed eating infected dead animals, according to CDC Director Thomas Frieden. "Of the 337 dogs from various towns and villages, 9 to 25 percent showed antibodies to Ebola, a sign they were infected or exposed to the virus," he said. Antibodies are created by the body to fight infection but do not indicate that a virus will be transmitted.
Bentley is being cared for at Hensley Field, a former military base in Dallas. The response from dog lovers has been so great that the city of Dallas has joined forces with a nonprofit, Dallas Companion Animal Project, to create a fund, the Dallas Pet Emergency Transition Services, to help pay for the care of pets affected by emergency events, including Ebola exposure. In a tweet Thursday [16 Oct 2014], followers learned the latest: #Bentleyupdate! Bentley is settling in, getting used to new routines. The cutie played w/ new toy and snuggled w/ vet.
[Byline: Maria Recio]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
******
[4]
Date: Fri 17 Oct 2014
Source: CDC Q&A [updated 13 Oct 2014, edited]
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/transmission/qas-pets.html
Questions and Answers about Ebola and Pets
------------------------------------------
The ongoing epidemic of Ebola in West Africa has raised several questions about how the disease affects the animal population, and in particular, the risk to household pets. While the information available suggests that the virus may be found in several kinds of animals, CDC, the US Department of Agriculture, and the American Veterinary Medical Association do not believe that pets are at significant risk for Ebola in the United States.
1. How are animals involved in Ebola outbreaks?
Because the natural reservoir host of Ebola has not yet been confirmed, the way in which the virus 1st appears in a human at the start of an outbreak is unknown. However, scientists believe that the 1st patient becomes infected through contact with an infected animal, such as a fruit bat or primate (apes and monkeys), which is called a spillover event. Person-to-person transmission follows and can lead to large numbers of affected persons. In some past Ebola outbreaks, primates were also affected by Ebola, and multiple spillover events occurred when people touched or ate infected primates. In the current West African epidemic, animals have not been found to be a factor in ongoing Ebola transmission.
2. How does Ebola spread?
When infection occurs in humans, the virus can be spread in several ways to others. Ebola is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose, or mouth) with blood or body fluids (including but not limited to urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, and semen) of a person who is sick with Ebola objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with the virus. Ebola is not spread through the air or by water, or in general, by food. However, in Africa, Ebola may be spread as a result of handling bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food) and contact with infected bats.
Only a few species of mammals (for example, humans, monkeys, and apes) have shown the ability to become infected with and spread Ebola virus. There is no evidence that mosquitos or other insects can transmit Ebola virus.
3. Can dogs get infected or sick with Ebola?
At this time, there have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola or of being able to spread Ebola to people or other animals. Even in areas in Africa where Ebola is present, there have been no reports of dogs and cats becoming sick with Ebola. There is limited evidence that dogs become infected with Ebola virus, but there is no evidence that they develop disease.
4. Here in the United States, are our dogs and cats at risk of becoming sick with Ebola?
The risk of an Ebola outbreak affecting multiple people in the United States is very low. Therefore, the risk to pets is also very low, as they would have to come into contact with blood and body fluids of a person with Ebola. Even in areas in Africa where Ebola is present, there have been no reports of dogs and cats becoming sick with Ebola.
5. Can I get Ebola from my dog or cat?
At this time, there have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola or of being able to spread Ebola to people or animals. The chances of a dog or cat being exposed to Ebola virus in the United States is very low as they would have to come into contact with blood and body fluids of a symptomatic person sick with Ebola.
6. Can my pet's body, fur, or paws spread Ebola to a person?
We do not yet know whether or not a pet's body, paws, or fur can pick up and spread Ebola to people or other animals. It is important to keep people and animals away from blood or body fluids of a person with symptoms of Ebola infection.
7. What if there is a pet in the home of an Ebola patient?
CDC recommends that public health officials in collaboration with a veterinarian evaluate the pet's risk of exposure to the virus (close contact or exposure to blood or body fluids of an Ebola patient). Based on this evaluation as well as the specific situation, local and state human and animal health officials will determine how the pet should be handled.
8. Can I get my dog or cat tested for Ebola?
There would not be any reason to test a dog or cat for Ebola if there was no exposure to a person infected with Ebola. Currently, routine testing for Ebola is not available for pets.
9. What are the requirements for bringing pets or other animals into the United States from West Africa?
CDC regulations require that dogs and cats imported into the United States be healthy. Dogs must be vaccinated against rabies before arrival into the United States. Monkeys and African rodents are not allowed to be imported as pets under any circumstances.
Each state and US Territory has its own rules for pet ownership and importation, and these rules may be different from federal regulations. Airlines may have additional requirements.
10. Can monkeys spread Ebola?
Yes, monkeys are at risk for Ebola. Symptoms of Ebola infection in monkeys include fever, decreased appetite, and sudden death. Monkeys should not be allowed to have contact with anyone who may have Ebola. Healthy monkeys already living in the United States and without exposure to a person infected with Ebola are not at risk for spreading Ebola.
11. Can bats spread Ebola?
Fruit bats in Africa are considered to be a natural reservoir for Ebola. Bats in North America are not known to carry Ebola and so CDC considers the risk of an Ebola outbreak from bats occurring in the United States to be very low. However, bats are known to carry rabies and other diseases here in the United States. To reduce the risk of disease transmission, never attempt to touch a bat, living or dead.
12. Where can I find more information about Ebola and pet dogs and cats?
CDC is currently working with the US Department of Agriculture, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and many other partners to develop additional guidance for the US pet population. Additional information and guidance will be posted on this website as well as partner websites as soon as it becomes available.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[According to the CDC's useful Q&A above, the only animal species about which factual data concerning their clinical ebolavirus infection and about their being a source for human infection is available, are monkeys and African fruit bats. When addressing dogs/cats, the responses are characterised by the phrases "not yet been confirmed", "unknown", "at this time", "we do not yet know", and finally "routine testing for Ebola is not available for pets".
A key statement is: "There is limited evidence that dogs become infected with Ebola virus, but there is no evidence that they develop disease". This means that the absence of clinical signs should not be interpreted as absence of infection. There are ample examples of species who may become non-clinical carriers of various disease agents, including zoonotic ones. We just don't know yet if a dog or a cat can become subclinical vectors.
The current lacuna in the scientific knowledge on the zoonotic aspects of the Ebola and other filoviruses is alarming. Dogs have become subject to public concerns because the 1st ex-African Ebola cases involved pet owners; other species, within and outside the endemic zone in Africa, should not be excluded, nor the virus' transmission route(s) and further epidemiological data. The following abstract of a 2012 paper will serve as demonstration (see reference):
"Ebola viruses (EBOV) cause often fatal hemorrhagic fever in several species of simian primates including human. While fruit bats are considered natural reservoir, involvement of other species in EBOV transmission is unclear. In 2009, Reston-EBOV was the 1st EBOV detected in swine with indicated transmission to humans. In-contact transmission of Zaire-EBOV (ZEBOV) between pigs was demonstrated experimentally. Here we show ZEBOV transmission from pigs to cynomolgus macaques without direct contact. Interestingly, transmission between macaques in similar housing conditions was never observed. Piglets inoculated oro-nasally with ZEBOV were transferred to the room housing macaques in an open inaccessible cage system. All macaques became infected. Infectious virus was detected in oro-nasal swabs of piglets, and in blood, swabs, and tissues of macaques. This is the 1st report of experimental interspecies virus transmission, with the macaques also used as a human surrogate. Our finding may influence prevention and control measures during EBOV outbreaks".
The said paper was covered in ProMED-mail posting archive # 20121116.1412991; Mod.CP's comment therein said that "the described experiment demonstrated the susceptibility of pigs to Zaire Ebolavirus but aerosol transmission from pigs to primates had yet to be demonstrated under natural environment conditions", and that "the evidence that pigs play a role in the transmission of Ebolavirus, other than Reston Ebolavirus, remains circumstantial".
Mod.MHJ suggested pig's urine as source of disease to macaques.
Have these experiments been pursued?
CDC recommends (answer 7) that "public health officials in collaboration with a veterinarian evaluate the pet's risk of exposure to the virus (close contact or exposure to blood or body fluids of an Ebola patient). Based on this evaluation as well as the specific situation, local and state human and animal health officials will determine how the pet should be handled". This may mean that decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
An update of the guidelines will be posted by ProMED-mail as soon as it becomes available.
Reference:
Hana M Weingartl, Carissa Embury-Hyatt, Charles Nfon, Anders Leung, Greg Smith, Gary Kobinger. Transmission of Ebola virus from pigs to non-human primates. Scientific Reports 2, Article number: 811 doi:10.1038/srep00811; http://www.nature.com/srep/2012/121115/ ... 00811.html.
- Mod.AS]
-
Birgitt
- Moderator
- Beiträge: 35199
- Registriert: Di 2. Aug 2005, 22:52
- Wohnort: NRW / Südl. Rheinland
- Kontaktdaten:
Ebola - Infos, News und Hintergründe
EBOLAVIRUS, ANIMAL RESERVOIR (04): CANINE, CONTROL, COMMENT
***********************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
[1]
Date: Sat 18 Oct 2014
Source: Veterinary Record 175 (15) p 361 News & Reports, doi: 10.1136/vr.g6222 [edited]
http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content ... 1.full.pdf (Subscription)
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) is calling for dogs that are exposed to the Ebola virus in countries that are not endemic for the disease to be tested and quarantined rather than be automatically euthanased. The call follows the euthanasia of the pet dog belonging to a Spanish health worker who was infected by the virus after caring for a missionary who died from Ebola.
The WSAVA reports that the dog was euthanased against the health worker's wishes on 8 Oct 2014 on the orders of the Spanish government. The Madrid regional government obtained a court order to euthanase the dog, claiming that "available scientific information" could not rule out "a risk of contagion". The WSAVA says that quarantine was not considered as an alternative. People who have come into contact with the health worker have been placed in quarantine.
"While it is possible that dogs may harbour the virus, particularly in endemic areas where they may have access to infected animal carcasses, domestic pets, potentially exposed in developed countries, represent a very different scenario," said Shane Ryan, chair of the WSAVA's animal wellness and welfare committee. "A precedent for automatic euthanasia is both unnecessary and a significant breach of animal welfare. The dog in question was not tested for the virus, and it is our view that available technology should allow for testing and quarantine as the 1st line response."
Michael Day, chairman of the WSAVA's One Health committee, added: "Zoonotic diseases, particularly those transmitted through pets, are concerning to the pet-owning public, but there have been no scientific reports indicating that Ebola virus has been isolated from or directly transmitted by dogs. One investigation has shown that dogs may develop antibody to Ebola virus consistent with exposure, but dogs do not develop any symptoms of the disease. As the virus spreads into more developed regions, we are likely to see increasing concern and media interest as to the role of dogs in the transmission of disease, and, as a profession, we must respond to pressure to euthanase pets as the exposure levels increase and fear escalates."
Meanwhile, the BVA and BSAVA have issued a press statement on Ebola virus and dogs, while also making information available to their members. The press statement, issued on 14 Oct 2014, emphasized that while there is evidence that dogs seroconvert and produce antibodies to the Ebola virus without showing clinical signs of the disease, the role of dogs, if any, in the transmission of the virus is not known.
"It would appear that the main route of transmission is human-to-human contact and that bodily fluids coming from infected people are highly infectious," the 2 organisations said. "As dogs may have contact with these fluids, it would be a sensible precaution to take great care when handling dogs in the face of an outbreak. If the dog has been in contact with a known infected person, the dog should be placed in strict isolation where they can be monitored until they pose no risk."
The information sent to BVA and BSAVA members offers similar advice, while also giving details of sources of further information about Ebola virus and dogs.
Among these is an article by J Scott Weese, published in the October [2014] issue of Clinicians' Brief, the official publication of the North American Veterinary Community. In the article, Dr Weese notes that the evidence that dogs can be infected with Ebola virus came from a study in a community where an Ebola virus outbreak was under way (Allela and others. Ebola virus antibody prevalence in dogs and human risk. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005; 11:385-390) [abstract in commentary of posting 20141012.2856328]. More than a quarter of healthy dogs had serum antibodies against the virus, but none had detectable virus in circulation. "Evidence of exposure was not surprising, as some dogs scavenged the bodies of animals that had potentially died of Ebola virus infection and had direct contact with humans with active disease," Dr Weese writes. This situation, he comments, is "profoundly different" from that of a household pet with transient exposure to a person who has been exposed or who has early infection.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has also reviewed current knowledge on Ebola virus and has issued a technical information sheet discussing the virus and the disease. The information sheet [available at http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/fr/Me ... _Final.pdf; excerpts in posting 20141010.2851028] considers the pathogenesis, occurrence, and natural hosts of the virus, as well as its transmission to people and the disease it causes. The OIE is encouraging veterinary services in affected countries to remain vigilant and to develop their involvement towards wildlife.
--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[Prior to the publications mentioned in the above review, we received the following question from a reader:
"Are dogs likely to become infected in the same way as humans -- for example, less likely if only exposed to mild symptoms of infection in their human contact? So maybe a timeline could be drawn on when to and when not to euthanize, depending on the symptoms of the human contact?" - Mod.AS]
******
[2]
Date: Sun 19 Oct 2014
From: Cor Lenghaus <corlenghaus@bigpond.com> [edited]
I am attempting by this note to add something in general to our understanding of the Ebola virus epidemic and questions related to the possible role of dogs in the spread of disease, hopefully reducing some of the attendant tensions associated with the issue.
I have no direct experience or expertise with Ebola virus but have had extensive experience with Rabbit Calicivirus (RCV). Prior to its release for rabbit control in Australia in the mid-1990's, a wide range of domestic animals and wildlife were challenged by intramuscular inoculation with a significant dose of RCV, with no evidence of disease or seroconversion. Anecdotally, subsequent to the RCV pandemic which occurred, a range of predator/scavenger animals were found to have comparatively low-positive antibody levels.
The conclusion was that non-target species were eating infected material, with antigen passing into their systems via oral abrasions, tonsils etc. These animals were then stimulated to produce an antibody response, processing the virus as antigen without ever having had a productive virus infection.
An analogous situation could have occurred with the Ebola disease outbreak in which scavenging dogs were found to be seropositive. Equally in this situation, scavenging rodents and birds might also have tested positive had they been examined.
To ultimately "prove" that an animal is carrying a productive infection would be very difficult in a heavily contaminated environment. PCR, because of its sensitivity, could easily yield a false positive under these circumstances. So might virus isolation, unless proper procedures were strictly adhered to.
Immunohistochemistry of target tissues might be considered, if specific reagents are available. Always, we need to be aware of the severe risks associated with detailed investigation of Ebola virus disease.
Ref:
Cor Lenghaus, Michael J Studdert, Dolores Gavier-Widen. "Calicivirus Infections". In Infectious diseases of wild mammals, 3rd edition. Iowa State University Press, 2001.
--
Cor Lenghaus, BVSc (Hons) PhD
Ararat, Victoria, Australia
<corlenghaus@bigpond.com>
[Subscribers are referred to the paper "Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus Infections" (updated August 2014, minor revision September 2014), by Anna Rovid Spickler, DVM, PhD. This useful 11 page review is included among the zoonoses at http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets ... ovirus.pdf.
The review includes, among other things, the chapters: species affected, zoonotic potential, infection in animals. - Mods.AS/CRD]
***********************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
[1]
Date: Sat 18 Oct 2014
Source: Veterinary Record 175 (15) p 361 News & Reports, doi: 10.1136/vr.g6222 [edited]
http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content ... 1.full.pdf (Subscription)
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) is calling for dogs that are exposed to the Ebola virus in countries that are not endemic for the disease to be tested and quarantined rather than be automatically euthanased. The call follows the euthanasia of the pet dog belonging to a Spanish health worker who was infected by the virus after caring for a missionary who died from Ebola.
The WSAVA reports that the dog was euthanased against the health worker's wishes on 8 Oct 2014 on the orders of the Spanish government. The Madrid regional government obtained a court order to euthanase the dog, claiming that "available scientific information" could not rule out "a risk of contagion". The WSAVA says that quarantine was not considered as an alternative. People who have come into contact with the health worker have been placed in quarantine.
"While it is possible that dogs may harbour the virus, particularly in endemic areas where they may have access to infected animal carcasses, domestic pets, potentially exposed in developed countries, represent a very different scenario," said Shane Ryan, chair of the WSAVA's animal wellness and welfare committee. "A precedent for automatic euthanasia is both unnecessary and a significant breach of animal welfare. The dog in question was not tested for the virus, and it is our view that available technology should allow for testing and quarantine as the 1st line response."
Michael Day, chairman of the WSAVA's One Health committee, added: "Zoonotic diseases, particularly those transmitted through pets, are concerning to the pet-owning public, but there have been no scientific reports indicating that Ebola virus has been isolated from or directly transmitted by dogs. One investigation has shown that dogs may develop antibody to Ebola virus consistent with exposure, but dogs do not develop any symptoms of the disease. As the virus spreads into more developed regions, we are likely to see increasing concern and media interest as to the role of dogs in the transmission of disease, and, as a profession, we must respond to pressure to euthanase pets as the exposure levels increase and fear escalates."
Meanwhile, the BVA and BSAVA have issued a press statement on Ebola virus and dogs, while also making information available to their members. The press statement, issued on 14 Oct 2014, emphasized that while there is evidence that dogs seroconvert and produce antibodies to the Ebola virus without showing clinical signs of the disease, the role of dogs, if any, in the transmission of the virus is not known.
"It would appear that the main route of transmission is human-to-human contact and that bodily fluids coming from infected people are highly infectious," the 2 organisations said. "As dogs may have contact with these fluids, it would be a sensible precaution to take great care when handling dogs in the face of an outbreak. If the dog has been in contact with a known infected person, the dog should be placed in strict isolation where they can be monitored until they pose no risk."
The information sent to BVA and BSAVA members offers similar advice, while also giving details of sources of further information about Ebola virus and dogs.
Among these is an article by J Scott Weese, published in the October [2014] issue of Clinicians' Brief, the official publication of the North American Veterinary Community. In the article, Dr Weese notes that the evidence that dogs can be infected with Ebola virus came from a study in a community where an Ebola virus outbreak was under way (Allela and others. Ebola virus antibody prevalence in dogs and human risk. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005; 11:385-390) [abstract in commentary of posting 20141012.2856328]. More than a quarter of healthy dogs had serum antibodies against the virus, but none had detectable virus in circulation. "Evidence of exposure was not surprising, as some dogs scavenged the bodies of animals that had potentially died of Ebola virus infection and had direct contact with humans with active disease," Dr Weese writes. This situation, he comments, is "profoundly different" from that of a household pet with transient exposure to a person who has been exposed or who has early infection.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has also reviewed current knowledge on Ebola virus and has issued a technical information sheet discussing the virus and the disease. The information sheet [available at http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/fr/Me ... _Final.pdf; excerpts in posting 20141010.2851028] considers the pathogenesis, occurrence, and natural hosts of the virus, as well as its transmission to people and the disease it causes. The OIE is encouraging veterinary services in affected countries to remain vigilant and to develop their involvement towards wildlife.
--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[Prior to the publications mentioned in the above review, we received the following question from a reader:
"Are dogs likely to become infected in the same way as humans -- for example, less likely if only exposed to mild symptoms of infection in their human contact? So maybe a timeline could be drawn on when to and when not to euthanize, depending on the symptoms of the human contact?" - Mod.AS]
******
[2]
Date: Sun 19 Oct 2014
From: Cor Lenghaus <corlenghaus@bigpond.com> [edited]
I am attempting by this note to add something in general to our understanding of the Ebola virus epidemic and questions related to the possible role of dogs in the spread of disease, hopefully reducing some of the attendant tensions associated with the issue.
I have no direct experience or expertise with Ebola virus but have had extensive experience with Rabbit Calicivirus (RCV). Prior to its release for rabbit control in Australia in the mid-1990's, a wide range of domestic animals and wildlife were challenged by intramuscular inoculation with a significant dose of RCV, with no evidence of disease or seroconversion. Anecdotally, subsequent to the RCV pandemic which occurred, a range of predator/scavenger animals were found to have comparatively low-positive antibody levels.
The conclusion was that non-target species were eating infected material, with antigen passing into their systems via oral abrasions, tonsils etc. These animals were then stimulated to produce an antibody response, processing the virus as antigen without ever having had a productive virus infection.
An analogous situation could have occurred with the Ebola disease outbreak in which scavenging dogs were found to be seropositive. Equally in this situation, scavenging rodents and birds might also have tested positive had they been examined.
To ultimately "prove" that an animal is carrying a productive infection would be very difficult in a heavily contaminated environment. PCR, because of its sensitivity, could easily yield a false positive under these circumstances. So might virus isolation, unless proper procedures were strictly adhered to.
Immunohistochemistry of target tissues might be considered, if specific reagents are available. Always, we need to be aware of the severe risks associated with detailed investigation of Ebola virus disease.
Ref:
Cor Lenghaus, Michael J Studdert, Dolores Gavier-Widen. "Calicivirus Infections". In Infectious diseases of wild mammals, 3rd edition. Iowa State University Press, 2001.
--
Cor Lenghaus, BVSc (Hons) PhD
Ararat, Victoria, Australia
<corlenghaus@bigpond.com>
[Subscribers are referred to the paper "Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus Infections" (updated August 2014, minor revision September 2014), by Anna Rovid Spickler, DVM, PhD. This useful 11 page review is included among the zoonoses at http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets ... ovirus.pdf.
The review includes, among other things, the chapters: species affected, zoonotic potential, infection in animals. - Mods.AS/CRD]
-
Birgitt
- Moderator
- Beiträge: 35199
- Registriert: Di 2. Aug 2005, 22:52
- Wohnort: NRW / Südl. Rheinland
- Kontaktdaten:
Ebola | Neuer Impfstoff in 2015 ...
Plötzlich geht es sehr schnell: Die Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) hat für den kommenden Monat erste Tests in Westafrika für einen Impfstoff gegen Ebola angekündigt. Bereits im ersten Halbjahr 2015 solle er dann großflächig zur Verfügung stehen, kündigte die Vizedirektorin Marie-Paule Kieny in Genf an, die von mehreren Hunderttausend Impfdosen sprach. Im Laufe des kommenden Jahres könnten insgesamt sogar mehrere Millionen Impfdosen zur Verfügung stehen, sollten die Tests zweier Präparate sich als sicher und effektiv herausstellen ...
Ebola-Impfung in wenigen Monaten?
24.10.2014 - tagesschau
Gruß
Birgitt
Ebola-Impfung in wenigen Monaten?
24.10.2014 - tagesschau
Gruß
Birgitt
-
Birgitt
- Moderator
- Beiträge: 35199
- Registriert: Di 2. Aug 2005, 22:52
- Wohnort: NRW / Südl. Rheinland
- Kontaktdaten:
Ebola | Haustiere gefährdet?
EBOLAVIRUS, ANIMAL RESERVOIR (05): USA, DOG, NOT
************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
[1]
Date: Wed 22 Oct 2014
Source: WFAA [edited]
http://www.wfaa.com/story/life/pets/201 ... /17574217/
The dog of a Dallas [Texas] nurse diagnosed with Ebola has tested negative for the deadly virus. When Nina Pham was diagnosed with Ebola earlier this month [October 2014], her King Charles Spaniel named Bentley was placed in quarantine with Dallas Animal Services. Bentley was seized from Pham's apartment on 11 Oct 2014 and is being quarantined at the Hensley Field Services Center on West Jefferson Avenue.
In a release Wednesday [22 Oct 2014], the City of Dallas said, "The test results show that Bentley has tested negative for the virus. Specimen collection will be conducted again before the end of the 21-day quarantine period. Bentley will be monitored for a full 21-day period, similar to people exposed to the Ebola virus."
The Centers for Disease Control says there have been no reports of dogs or cats falling ill with Ebola, nor is there any evidence that pets can spread the virus to other people or pets.
After a Spanish nurse was diagnosed with Ebola, authorities decided to euthanize her pet dog, Excalibur. But Dallas officials pledged to do everything they could to avoid that fate for Pham's pet. "We are hopeful that Bentley's journey will contribute to what we know about Ebola and dogs, since they play such an important role in so many peoples lives," said Dallas Animal Services operation manager Dr Cate McManus in a written statement.
Pham is recovering at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland. Dallas Animal Services said she is getting regular updates about Bentley's progress.
[byline: Walt Zwirko and Jordan Armstrong]
--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
******
[2]
Date: Wed 22 Oct 2014
Source: Los Angeles Times [edited]
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow ... story.html
Texas nurse Nina Pham's dog, Bentley, has tested negative for the Ebola virus, Dallas officials announced on Wednesday [22 Oct 2014]. The 1 year old Cavalier King Charles spaniel was put into quarantine last week after Pham contracted the disease.
Pham, 26, was diagnosed with Ebola this month [October 2014] after taking care of Thomas Eric Duncan, the 1st Ebola patient diagnosed on US soil, at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. She stayed in isolation in the hospital for nearly a week and was transferred on Thursday [16 Oct 2014] to a National Institutes of Health clinic in Bethesda, Maryland, for further treatment. On Tuesday [21 Oct 2014], her condition was upgraded to good.
Bentley is to remain in quarantine at Hensley Field, a decommissioned naval air base west of Dallas, for 21 days, the incubation period for Ebola. He will be tested again before being released, Dallas spokeswoman Sana Syed said on Twitter. Workers watching over Bentley have been wearing full-body protective suits to make sure they don't catch the deadly virus in case he was infected. But the risk that a person could catch Ebola from a dog is exceedingly low, experts say.
Although there is scientific evidence that pets are vulnerable to infection, there has not been a single case of a dog or cat spreading the virus to people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC says, "there have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola," not even in Africa, where the virus was 1st identified in the 1970s.
In Spain this month [October 2014], after a nursing assistant was diagnosed with Ebola, authorities euthanized her dog as a precaution. The move sparked international outrage. On Sunday [19 Oct 2014], an initial test showed that [the nursing assistant's] blood no longer had any traces of the Ebola virus.
[byline: Lauren Raab]
--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[The approach adopted in Texas -- testing the dog for the virus and monitoring for possible infection -- seems sensible. The veterinarians treating and caring for Bentley have said he is the perfect patient -- easy to care for and very responsive to them. It is delightful to know both Ms Pham and Bentley will soon be healthy and reunited. - Mod.TG
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/245.]
************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
[1]
Date: Wed 22 Oct 2014
Source: WFAA [edited]
http://www.wfaa.com/story/life/pets/201 ... /17574217/
The dog of a Dallas [Texas] nurse diagnosed with Ebola has tested negative for the deadly virus. When Nina Pham was diagnosed with Ebola earlier this month [October 2014], her King Charles Spaniel named Bentley was placed in quarantine with Dallas Animal Services. Bentley was seized from Pham's apartment on 11 Oct 2014 and is being quarantined at the Hensley Field Services Center on West Jefferson Avenue.
In a release Wednesday [22 Oct 2014], the City of Dallas said, "The test results show that Bentley has tested negative for the virus. Specimen collection will be conducted again before the end of the 21-day quarantine period. Bentley will be monitored for a full 21-day period, similar to people exposed to the Ebola virus."
The Centers for Disease Control says there have been no reports of dogs or cats falling ill with Ebola, nor is there any evidence that pets can spread the virus to other people or pets.
After a Spanish nurse was diagnosed with Ebola, authorities decided to euthanize her pet dog, Excalibur. But Dallas officials pledged to do everything they could to avoid that fate for Pham's pet. "We are hopeful that Bentley's journey will contribute to what we know about Ebola and dogs, since they play such an important role in so many peoples lives," said Dallas Animal Services operation manager Dr Cate McManus in a written statement.
Pham is recovering at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland. Dallas Animal Services said she is getting regular updates about Bentley's progress.
[byline: Walt Zwirko and Jordan Armstrong]
--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
******
[2]
Date: Wed 22 Oct 2014
Source: Los Angeles Times [edited]
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow ... story.html
Texas nurse Nina Pham's dog, Bentley, has tested negative for the Ebola virus, Dallas officials announced on Wednesday [22 Oct 2014]. The 1 year old Cavalier King Charles spaniel was put into quarantine last week after Pham contracted the disease.
Pham, 26, was diagnosed with Ebola this month [October 2014] after taking care of Thomas Eric Duncan, the 1st Ebola patient diagnosed on US soil, at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. She stayed in isolation in the hospital for nearly a week and was transferred on Thursday [16 Oct 2014] to a National Institutes of Health clinic in Bethesda, Maryland, for further treatment. On Tuesday [21 Oct 2014], her condition was upgraded to good.
Bentley is to remain in quarantine at Hensley Field, a decommissioned naval air base west of Dallas, for 21 days, the incubation period for Ebola. He will be tested again before being released, Dallas spokeswoman Sana Syed said on Twitter. Workers watching over Bentley have been wearing full-body protective suits to make sure they don't catch the deadly virus in case he was infected. But the risk that a person could catch Ebola from a dog is exceedingly low, experts say.
Although there is scientific evidence that pets are vulnerable to infection, there has not been a single case of a dog or cat spreading the virus to people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC says, "there have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola," not even in Africa, where the virus was 1st identified in the 1970s.
In Spain this month [October 2014], after a nursing assistant was diagnosed with Ebola, authorities euthanized her dog as a precaution. The move sparked international outrage. On Sunday [19 Oct 2014], an initial test showed that [the nursing assistant's] blood no longer had any traces of the Ebola virus.
[byline: Lauren Raab]
--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[The approach adopted in Texas -- testing the dog for the virus and monitoring for possible infection -- seems sensible. The veterinarians treating and caring for Bentley have said he is the perfect patient -- easy to care for and very responsive to them. It is delightful to know both Ms Pham and Bentley will soon be healthy and reunited. - Mod.TG
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/245.]
-
Alexander
- Administrator
- Beiträge: 24253
- Registriert: Sa 30. Jul 2005, 19:12
- Wohnort: Dubai/Vereinigte Arabische Emirate
- Kontaktdaten:
Ein neuer Anlauf gegen Ebola
Aus dem Blut eines Überlebenden haben Forscher einen Antikörper isoliert, der besser gegen die Krankheit wirken soll als ZMapp. Proband Nummer eins wäre beinahe gestorben, so wie 250 andere während der Epidemie in Kikwit, Zaire. Wochenlang lag er schwerkrank in einem Ebola-Behandlungszentrum und kam nur langsam wieder zu Kräften. Später half der Mann dabei, andere Patienten zu pflegen ...
tagesspiegel: Neuer Wirkstoff schützt Affen vor Ebolaviren
Grüsse
Alexander
tagesspiegel: Neuer Wirkstoff schützt Affen vor Ebolaviren
Grüsse
Alexander
The one who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. Those who walk alone are likely to find themselves in places no one has ever been before.
· · · Wüstenschiff-Veranstaltungsübersicht 2026 —> Alle Reise-Events auf einen Blick - Check it out !!!
· · · · · Werde Wüstenschiff-Werbepartner —> Firmen, die Wüstenschiff-Aktionen in Afrika unterstützen
· · · · · · · Geschlossene Gruppen —> Die neue Wüstenschiff-Funktion
· · · Wüstenschiff-Veranstaltungsübersicht 2026 —> Alle Reise-Events auf einen Blick - Check it out !!!
· · · · · Werde Wüstenschiff-Werbepartner —> Firmen, die Wüstenschiff-Aktionen in Afrika unterstützen
· · · · · · · Geschlossene Gruppen —> Die neue Wüstenschiff-Funktion
-
Birgitt
- Moderator
- Beiträge: 35199
- Registriert: Di 2. Aug 2005, 22:52
- Wohnort: NRW / Südl. Rheinland
- Kontaktdaten:
Kenia - Affe frisst Fledermaus - Übertragungsweg Ebola?
Forscher beobachten erstmals Meerkatzen bei der Jagd auf Fledermäuse
25.05.2016 - scinexx
Gruß
Birgitt
Affe frisst FledermausAuf frischer Tat ertappt: Meerkatzen pflücken nicht nur Früchte von den Bäumen, sie greifen sich auch dort ruhende Fledermäuse und fressen sie. Dieses bisher bei Affen unbekannte Verhalten haben Forscher nun erstmals in zwei Nationalparks in Kenia beobachtet und gefilmt. Das Fressen von Fledermäusen könnte auch erklären, wie Ebolaviren und andere Erreger von Fledermäusen auf Affen übertragen werden, mutmaßen die Wissenschaftler im Fachmagazin "EcoHealth" (EcoHealth, 2016; doi: 10.1007/s10393-016-1121-0).
25.05.2016 - scinexx
Gruß
Birgitt
-
Birgitt
- Moderator
- Beiträge: 35199
- Registriert: Di 2. Aug 2005, 22:52
- Wohnort: NRW / Südl. Rheinland
- Kontaktdaten:
Kampf gegen Ebola - Wirksamer Impfstoff entwickelt
Mehr als 11.000 Menschen starben bei der vergangenen, bisher schwersten Ebola-Epidemie in Westafrika. Nach Einschätzung von WHO-Experten könnte nun ein "fast hundertprozentig" wirksamer Impfstoff gefunden worden sein.
23.12.2016 - DW World
Gruß
Birgitt
WHO: Erster wirksamer Ebola-Impfstoff entwickeltDie Fachzeitschrift "The Lancet" will die Testergebnisse nun veröffentlichen. Der US-Forscher Thomas Beisbert zeigte sich in einem Beitrag ebenfalls überzeugt von dem neuen Mittel. "Nach 40 Jahren scheint es so zu sein, dass wir nun einen wirksamen Impfstoff gegen die Ebola-Krankheit haben", schrieb Beisbert. Nach Angaben Kienys will der Hersteller, die US-Firma Merck, bis Ende 2017 eine Zulassung für die Ebola-Impfung in den USA und in Europa erhalten. Bis dahin sollen 300.000 Dosen für mögliche Epidemien bereitgestellt werden. Die globale Impfallianz Gavi hat dafür bereits fünf Millionen US-Dollar bewilligt.
23.12.2016 - DW World
Gruß
Birgitt
-
Birgitt
- Moderator
- Beiträge: 35199
- Registriert: Di 2. Aug 2005, 22:52
- Wohnort: NRW / Südl. Rheinland
- Kontaktdaten:
Forschung in Afrika - Ebola-Erreger in Fledermaus entdeckt
Eine Fledermaus könnte neue Erkenntnisse über den großen Ebola-Ausbruch 2014/2015 in Westafrika liefern ...
26.01.2019 - tagesschau
Gruß
Birgitt
Forschung in Afrika - Ebola-Erreger in Fledermaus entdecktWissenschaftler haben bei ihren Forschungen über die Ebola-Krankheit das Virus erstmals bei einer Fledermaus in Westafrika nachgewiesen [...] Die Entdeckung des Erregers in der Fledermaus könnte darauf hinweisen, dass die Krankheit über die Tiere auch auf den Menschen übertragen werden kann. "Bislang wussten wir gar nicht, wie es zu der Westafrika-Epidemie kam", sagte Simon Anthony von der Universität Columbia in New York. Bisher hatten Forscher, die in den damals von dem Ebola-Ausbruch betroffenen Regionen tätig sind, nur Antikörper gegen das Virus in Fledertieren entdeckt - also in Fledermäusen oder auch in Flughunden.
26.01.2019 - tagesschau
Gruß
Birgitt
-
Birgitt
- Moderator
- Beiträge: 35199
- Registriert: Di 2. Aug 2005, 22:52
- Wohnort: NRW / Südl. Rheinland
- Kontaktdaten:
Ebola | FDA erlaubt Impfstoff gegen Zaire-Ebolavirus
Der Ebola-Impfstoff Ervebo ist nun auch in den USA zugelassen. Das Medikament soll Menschen vor dem Virus schützen. Derweil dauert der Ausbruch in der Demokratischen Republik Kongo an ...
23.12.2019 - spektrum
Gruß
Birgitt
FDA erlaubt Impfstoff gegen Zaire-EbolavirusDie amerikanische Arzneimittelbehörde FDA hat erstmals einen Impfstoff gegen Ebola zugelassen: Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV). Damit folgt sie einer Entscheidung der EU-Kommission, die diesen Impfstoff bereits im Herbst zugelassen hat. Bei dem Mittel handelt es sich um eine Lebendvakzine, die auf dem Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) basiert. Eine einmalige Impfung soll genügen. Der Impfstoff dürfe Personen ab 18 Jahren verabreicht werden, teilte der Hersteller Merck & Co in einer Pressemitteilung mit. Man wolle lizenzierte Dosen herstellen, heißt es weiter. Diese dürften etwa im dritten Quartal 2020 verfügbar sein.
23.12.2019 - spektrum
Gruß
Birgitt
-
Birgitt
- Moderator
- Beiträge: 35199
- Registriert: Di 2. Aug 2005, 22:52
- Wohnort: NRW / Südl. Rheinland
- Kontaktdaten:
Ebola | Virus bleibt nach dem Fieber im Gehirn
Auch nach dem akuten Ebolafieber ist die Infektion nicht vorbei - das Ebolavirus bleibt im Körper. Es kann Monate oder sogar Jahre unerkannt im zentralen Nervensystem überdauern. Wo sich der Erreger im Gehirn versteckt und welche Folgen dies hat, haben nun Virologen um Lina Widerspick vom Bernhard-Nocht-Institut für Tropenmedizin in Hamburg aufgedeckt. Ihre Erkenntnisse erklären Spätfolgen bei Ebola-Überlebenden, zeigen aber auch eine unterschätzte Ansteckungsgefahr ...
Ebolavirus bleibt nach dem Fieber im Gehirn
22.06.2026 - wissenschaft.de
Host–virus determinants of Ebola virus persistence in a human cerebral organoid model
12.06.2026 - nature microbiology
Gruß
Birgitt
Ebolavirus bleibt nach dem Fieber im Gehirn
22.06.2026 - wissenschaft.de
Host–virus determinants of Ebola virus persistence in a human cerebral organoid model
12.06.2026 - nature microbiology
Gruß
Birgitt
-
Birgitt
- Moderator
- Beiträge: 35199
- Registriert: Di 2. Aug 2005, 22:52
- Wohnort: NRW / Südl. Rheinland
- Kontaktdaten:
Re: Ebola | Infos, News und Hintergründe
Angesichts des aktuellen Ebola-Ausbruchs in der Demokratischen Republik Kongo hat TIB Molbiol einen PCR-Test zum Nachweis des seltenen Ebola-Bundibugyo-Virus für Forschungszwecke (Research use only, RUO) entwickelt. Es soll Laboren den raschen Aufbau von Testkapazitäten ermöglichen und die epidemiologische Überwachung (Surveillance) sowie die Eindämmung der Ausbrüche unterstützen ...
PCR-Test zum Nachweis des Ebola-Bundibugyo-Virus entwickelt
23.07.2026 - LABO
Gruß
Birgitt
PCR-Test zum Nachweis des Ebola-Bundibugyo-Virus entwickelt
23.07.2026 - LABO
Gruß
Birgitt
