Ebola virus
Veterinary resources:
Checklist for practicing veterinarians (PDF)
Ebola resources for veterinarians
Client handout: Ebola and pets (PDF)
Health officials:
Interim guidance: Pets of Ebola virus disease contacts (PDF)
Interim guidance: Dog or cat quarantine (PDF)
Animal owners:
In 2014, the death of an international traveler diagnosed in the U.S. as having the Ebola virus disease (EVD), coupled with the precautionary measure by Spanish health officials to euthanize the dog of an exposed healthcare worker, raised questions and concerns among veterinarians and the public regarding whether it is possible for dogs to get EVD or spread it to humans.
Ebola virus in animals
During the Ebola outbreak of 2014 there were no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola or of being able to spread the virus to people or animals.
The chances of a dog being exposed to Ebola virus in the U.S. are very low. Exposure requires close contact with bodily fluids of a person with symptoms of Ebola infection. This is why it is important for individuals symptomatic with the disease to avoid contact with animals and others to the extent possible.
Ebola virus in people
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 (e.g., urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, and semen) of a person who is sick with the virus
- Objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with the virus
- Infected fruit bats or nonhuman primates
Ebola is not spread through air, water, or food, with the exception of handling or consuming infected bushmeat (food derived from wild animals, such as fruit bats and nonhuman primates). There is no evidence that mosquitos or other insects transmit Ebola virus, and only a few species of mammals (e.g. humans, nonhuman primates, and fruit bats) are noted to be susceptible and capable of spreading the virus.
Symptoms of Ebola in people may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days (average 8 to 10 days) after exposure and include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising).