NEW YORK — Health officials are warning people who are infected with monkeypox to stay away from household pets, since the animals could be at risk of catching the virus.
Since monkeypox has spread to the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been giving this warning for several months. The virus was first reported in France last week, and it received renewed attention following a Lancet report about an Italian grayhound that contracted the disease.
A couple claimed that the dog belonged to them and they sleep with it. After having sex, the two men contracted monkeypox and developed lesions. After developing lesions, the greyhound was later diagnosed as having the virus.
Infections of monkeypox have been found in wild rodents as well as other animals. This virus could spread from one animal to another. It was the first ever report of monkeypox infections in domesticated animals such as dogs or cats, however.
The CDC suggests that pets who come into close contact with symptomatic people should stay at home for 21 days.
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