Bentley, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel belonging to one of the two nurses who contracted Ebola in Dallas, has tested negative for the virus, the city said Wednesday. Nina Pham, the owner of the pooch and the first person to contract Ebola on U.S. soil, was diagnosed with the deadly hemorrhagic fever on Oct. 11. She is being treated at a National Institutes of Health unit in Bethesda, Maryland, where she was in good condition Tuesday.
Bentley has been in the care of the City of Dallas Animal Services, which is working with veterinary teams. The pup has been under a 21-day quarantine period. In a statement Wednesday, the City of Dallas said Bentley "will be monitored for a full 21-day period, similar to people exposed to the Ebola virus."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said there is limited evidence showing that dogs can become infected with Ebola, but there isn't evidence suggesting dogs can develop the disease. It said there have been no known reports of dogs or cats contracting or spreading the virus.
A dog belonging to a Spanish nurse who became infected with Ebola was euthanized Oct. 8 as a precautionary measure, a move that sparked protests in that country.
IN-DEPTH
- Ebola Patient Nina Pham's Dog, Bentley, Enters Testing Phase
- Ebola Patient Nina Pham's Dog Gets TLC in Foster Home
- Bentley's Fate: Dallas Nurse's Dog Faces Ebola Isolation
