Monkeypox could become ‘permanent’ if pets get it, experts warn
Monkeypox could become permanent in Europe if pets also start contracting monkeypox, experts have warned.
There have not been any reports of monkeypox infections in pets, but in a rapid risk assessment on Monday, the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) said it was important to “manage exposed pets and prevent the spread of the disease to wild animals”.
In its latest update, the ECDC said: “If human-to-human transmission occurs and the virus circulates in animal populations, the disease has the potential to be endemic in Europe.
“Rodents, particularly species of the Squirrel family (squirrel) may be suitable hosts, more so than humans, and transmission from humans to (pet) animals is theoretically possible.
“Such a spillover event could lead to the spread of the virus in European wildlife and make the disease endemic zoonotic. The likelihood of such a spillover event is very low.”
Professor David Robertson, of the Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, told The Telegraph it was a “justified concern”.
“It seems sensible to monitor any animals/pets that an infected person has come into contact with,” he said.
Experts believe rodents such as mice and squirrels can carry the virus, but it’s not clear which animals are at risk.