The news that a dog tested positive for monkeypox is currently trending.
The first reported instance of monkeypox virus transfer from a human to a pet has been documented in a medical journal.
According to The Lancet, a dog infected with the virus that shared a home with two sick persons in France started showing symptoms 12 days after they did.
The male Italian greyhound, who was 4 years old and had no history of medical issues, tested positive after displaying signs like sores and pustules on its abdomen.
Researchers identified the viruses afflicting the two men and the dog as monkeypox through DNA testing.
The two men had been sleeping with their dog in their bed but had kept him away from other people and animals ever since they started to exhibit symptoms.
“Our findings should provoke debate on the need to segregate pets from monkeypox virus-positive persons,” the researchers wrote in their article.
In its advice on monkeypox, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has cautioned against potential human-to-pet transmission.
The CDC advises that sick animals can transmit the monkeypox virus to people, and that infected individuals may transmit the virus to animals through close contact.
People who have the infection are urged to refrain from touching, snuggling, hugging, kissing, licking, sharing sleeping spaces, and sharing food with their pets.
