Although this is a dog story, I feel it crosses over into those of us who care for cats. When I saw Michael’s story on whether ebola is transmissible between cats and humans, I knew I had to bring everyone this update from Dallas, Texas.
Right now, Ebola is the most feared word in the English language. And for good reason, as the virus is doing things no one saw coming. With this potentially deadly outbreak, which does seem to be what’s happening now outside of Africa, many people are worried about what would happen to their pets, should they become infected.
One person who doesn’t have to worry is Nina Pham, the 26 year old nurse who cared for Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan. Thomas died last week, and now Nina has been diagnosed as having Ebola. Nina is receiving the best of care, including a blood transfusion from American Ebola survivor Dr. Kent Brantly.
It’s believed there was a breach in procedure as Nina was removing her personal protective equipment (PPE) after caring for Thomas, and this error caused her to become infected.
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings was recently interviewed by USA Today, where he assured the animal lovers who learned Nina has a dog….
“The dog’s very important to the patient, and we want it to be safe.”
According to Time magazine, cats are immune to the Ebola virus. But what about dogs? The debate is on as to whether dogs can come down with Ebola, be an asymptomatic carrier or directly pass the infection on to humans who come in close contact with the animal. The CDC has even stated on their website that
“…researchers have hypothesized that the first patient becomes infected through contact with an infected animal.”
Imagine how many people wouldn’t come forward for something as minor as influenza, should word go out that cats and dogs belonging to those suspected of being infected will be euthanized rather than quarantined to watch for symptoms. For this reason alone the decision to not euthanize this dog was a good one. People in the United States generally an animal-loving people. What happens to a pet directly affects its caregiver.
I feel Dallas has made a good decision in not only stating Nina’s dog won’t be killed, but to go as far as to say a pet is important to a patient who is trying to overcome a deadly illness.
As for the Ebola virus, a community can best serve its residents by remaining calm and keeping a clear head. A lot of people have compared Ebola to the first years of AIDS, when many argued it would be best to keep the infected in guarded compounds. I still remember reading several articles as a young woman concerning whether cats and dogs could spread the HIV virus.
It was good to read Nina will still have her dog waiting for her after she recovers and can return home. Let’s hope the rest of the country will follow suit, should the Ebola virus continue to spread.
P.S. I’ve read just enough pandemic novels to have a healthy suspicion that this country needs to have a better line of defence in protecting the public. Too many mistakes are being made, and this may only be the beginning. In other words, wash your hands thoroughly everyone. There are many nasty bugs out there, besides Ebola, and stringent hygiene plays a major role in keeping well.
Source: Dogster website
Again…
Well, no virus that causes disease in humans has ever been known to mutate to change its mode of transmission. So, it’s unlikely that Ebola will mutate to become airborne.
But, since it has mutated more than 300 times since the beginning of this outbreak, there is some sketicism ofcourse.
But, today, Ebola isn’t airborne, waterborne, or foodborne.
Should Ebola ever become airborne, I doubt that we would be told because of the level of panic it would cause. I wouldn’t want to know myself, because it would mean the end of civilization.
Some “expert” has suggested it may mutate to being transmittable via air like a cold.
The Texas hospital has been found to have breached protocols badly. For example, the first patient who died was left on a hospital trolley in the corridor or ward for 2 hours. As I recall the staff who initially treated him did not wear protective clothes.
There are at least 77 more workers being monitored from the Presbytarian hospital in Texas.
It’s interesting that 5 infected patients have been/are being treated in a Nebraska hospital and not one worker has been infected.
All hospitals are required to follow CDC protocols when dealing with these kinds of situations. It seems to me that the Texas hospital must have breached precaution requirements. (Are we surprised? This is Texas!). I think all subsequent infected healthcare workers need to be flown out of Texas to more compliant hospitals.
Transmission happens when the virus enters the body from an open cut or by way of mucous membranes, which are found in the nose, mouth, eye, rectum, and vagina.
Being around a snot rag isn’t going to be a problem. If you touch the item and, then, pick your nose or rub your eye you will likely infect yourself.
As Elisa has already written… handwash, handwash, handwash…If you must come in contact with body fluids, don’t touch without gloves.
But, should an infected person suddenly throw up all over you, you’re sh-t out of luck!
This is the problem. Once it gets out on the street you start losing control.