People with monkeypox are set to be told to keep a distance from their pets in Government advice due to be issued this week, according to reports. It will come as the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs is expected to warn of a potential risk of transmission from humans to animals.
There are now believed to be 79 cases of monkeypox in the UK and the UK Health Security Agency will update the total later on Thursday. The first case of monkeypox was confirmed in Wales today.
Defra is understood to be preparing guidelines to limit any further spread of the virus and stop people with monkeypox infecting cats, dogs and rabbits. MailOnline reports fears that patients could contaminate the fur of pets which could then be passed on to other people in the household.
Earlier this week, experts expressed fears that monkeypox could become an established disease in the UK and Europe if it is passed from humans to pets and wild animals. The move would mean people in the UK catching the disease in future by interacting with everything from pet dogs and rats to wild squirrels.
Ensuring pets are not infected is key to keeping control of the disease which can cause patients to suffer from fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion and chills, reported the Daily Star. The European Centre for Disease Control warned on Monday that it was important to "manage exposed pets and prevent the disease from being transmitted to wildlife".
The update said: "If human-to-animal transmission occurs, and the virus spreads in an animal population, there is a risk that the disease could become endemic in Europe. Rodents, and particularly species of the family of Sciuridae (squirrels) are likely to be suitable hosts, more so than humans, and transmission from humans to (pet) animals is theoretically possible.
"Such a spill-over event could potentially lead to the virus establishing in European wildlife and the disease becoming an endemic zoonosis. The probability of this spill-over event is very low."
Prof David Robertson, of the Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, told the Telegraph that the virus spreading to animals is a “valid concern”. He said: “It would seem sensible to monitor any animals/pets that infected people are in contact with."
Justine Shotton, president of the British Veterinary Association, told the Mail : "It would be a sensible decision to keep your distance from a pet while in quarantine. If I was diagnosed with monkeypox I would do whatever I could to limit contact, such as asking a friend or relative to take care of it.’
She added: "There is currently no evidence of transmission between humans and cats and dogs but we know rabbits and rodents are susceptible."
Speaking of the first case of monkeypox in Wales, Dr Giri Shankar, director of health protection for Public Health Wales, said: “We are working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Public Health Scotland, and Public Health Agency Northern Ireland, and we are ready to respond to cases of monkeypox in Wales.
“The case is being managed appropriately. To protect patient confidentiality, no further details relating to the patient will be disclosed.
“Everyone is being asked to be aware of the monkeypox symptoms, but it is important that gay and bisexual men are alert as it’s believed to be spreading in sexual networks.
“Anyone with unusual rashes or lesions on any part of their body should contact NHS 111 or call a sexual health service if they have concerns.”
Initial symptoms of the virus include fever or high temperature; head, muscle and back ache; swollen lymph nodes; chills and exhaustion. A blister-like rash or small number of blister-like sores can also develop, starting on the face but spreading across the body.
The rash changes throughout the infection, finally forming a scab which falls off within weeks.
