The first case of a dog being infected with monkeypox via humans

Published
19th Aug, 2022

Context

The first case of human-to-animal transmission of monkeypox has been reported in a dog

About

About:

It has been detected in a Paris hospital.
The infected dog showed symptoms such as lesions on the skin, specifically “mucocutaneous lesions, including abdomen pustules and a thin anal ulceration”.
It is unclear right now if dogs can further spread the disease to other dogs or humans.

What precautions need to be taken for households with pets?

Given only one case has been reported so far, The Lancet has called for further investigation on secondary transmissions via pets. However, the CDC has suggested certain precautions:

It is possible that people who are infected can spread the monkeypox virus to animals through close contact — petting, cuddling, hugging, kissing, licking, sharing sleeping areas, and sharing food.
Those who have monkeypox symptoms or have recently tested positive need to avoid close contact.
If the pet has not been in close proximity to the owners, they can be shifted to another place until the recovery happens, or around 21 days.

About Monkey-Pox:

Monkey-pox (MPX) is a viral zoonotic disease with symptoms similar to smallpox, although with less clinical severity.
It is a potentially serious viral illness that typically involves flu-like symptoms, swelling of the lymph nodes, and a rash that includes bumps that are initially filled with fluid before scabbing over.
Illness could be confused with a sexually transmitted infection like syphilis or herpes, or chickenpox.

Mode of transmission:

Human-to-human transmission is known to occur primarily through large respiratory droplets generally requiring prolonged close contact.
It can also be transmitted through direct contact with body fluids or lesion material, and indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated clothing or linens of an infected person.

What causes monkey-pox?

It is a rare disease that is caused by infection with the monkey-pox virus.
This virus belongs to the Ortho-pox-virus genus.
It includes the variola (smallpox) virus as well as the vaccinia virus, which is used in the smallpox vaccine.

Outbreaks:

Human monkeypox was first identified in humans in 1970in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then known as Zaire) in a 9-year-old boy in a region where smallpox had been eliminated in 1968.
Since then, most cases have been reported from rural, rainforest regions of the Congo Basin, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it is considered to be endemic.