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Dogs can be infected with the Ebola Virus.
Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) September 11, 2014
With the recent outbreak of Ebola, pet owners are increasingly concerned about whether it can be transmitted to dogs and cats.
Ebola is in fact a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be passed between species. Dogs and other animals pick up Ebola from consuming infected meat and coming into direct contact with infectious fluids like urine and feces. This is similar to the way that humans can contract the deadly disease.
According to Dr. Debra Primovic, Licensed Practicing Veterinarian and Editor-in-Chief of PetPlace.com, "Dogs can be infected with the Ebola Virus, based on information obtained from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).”
The CDC concluded that infected dogs are asymptomatic from Ebola and therefore do not develop symptoms. During the initial time of their infection, however, they can spread the disease to humans and other animals through licking, biting, grooming, saliva, tears, urine, and feces. Once the virus is cleared from the dog’s system, however, it is no longer contagious. Dogs, unlike humans, do not die from Ebola infections.
On the other hand, cats do not appear to get the Ebola virus, as there have been no documented infections in cats at this time.
“In the United States and areas of the world not contiguous to the affected countries in central Africa, the chances of contracting Ebola are extremely low thankfully,” said Dr. Debra Primovic.
For more information visit http://www.PetPlace.com
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