Fever, headaches and blistering rash are the potential symptoms your pets could contract from contact with the smallpox of the monkey. As France approaches 500 human cases of contamination, ANSE has published recommendations to prevent spread to animals. Indeed, the extremely contagious mode of transmission of the disease, by direct contact with the mucous membranes, skin lesions or droplets (saliva, postilion, sneeze) of the patient seem to be a vector of propagation also in animals.
Monkey pox: avoid contact
Thus, this disease is mainly transmitted by rodents. Thus rabbits and hares are a susceptible population to affliction but also rats, mice, hamsters and guinea pigs. Special attention should therefore be paid to animals. It is in all that indicates the ANSE which recommends toavoid contact in case of symptoms. Contact with squirrels and wild prairie dogs should also be avoided. There are no data for dogs, cats and ferrets yet.
Nevertheless, in the event of symptoms, the ANSE recommends having your animals kept for the time of isolation in order to avoid the spread and advises to wash your hands and wear gloves and a disposable mask with each manipulation of l’animal.
These recommendations also apply to veterinarians. ANSE asks veterinarians “the greatest vigilance” regarding animals with the corresponding symptoms.