'No evidence of Ebola being passed by dogs': Thai Public Health Ministry

[webfact]

'No evidence of Ebola being passed by dogs'
POUNGCHOMPOO PRASERT
WASU VIPOOSANAPAT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THERE IS no clear evidence of Ebola transmission from dogs to human beings, the Ministry of Public Health said yesterday in response to the Spanish government's decision to euthanise the dog of an infected woman.

The deputy director-general of the ministry's Department of Disease Control, Dr Opas Karnkavinpong, said dogs could get Ebola like other animals such as monkeys and bats but it was unclear if the disease could be transmitted from dogs to humans.

As the deadly virus continues to spread around the world, Opas said the authorities were closely monitoring the country's Ebola prevention measures including keeping an eye on incoming flights and communities.

Preparations were also in place to treat any patient, he said. There have been no reported Ebola cases in Thailand. This week, scores of animal rights activists worldwide failed to stop Spanish authorities from euthanising Excalibur, the dog owned by nurse Teresa Romero Ramos.

On Tuesday, officials from Madrid's regional government got a court order to put the dog down despite uncertainty over whether it was infected with the disease or could spread it even if it were.

Nutch prasopsin, of the renowned Toon Hua Khong Bao Facebook page, said the Spanish government had over-reacted. "It was unfair to already judge that we should take away this life where there is no evidence showing [it has the disease]," she said. "An animal's life is as precious as that of a human being." The campaign was driven on social media. On Twitter #SalvemosaExcalibur, "Let's Save Excalibur", was tweeted nearly 400,000 times in 24 hours.

At the same time, a petition on the Change.org website demanding the dog's life be spared garnered more than 380,000 signatures.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/No-evidence-of-Ebola-being-passed-by-dogs-30245147.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-10

[ClutchClark]

So there would be two possible methods of a dog transmitting the Ebola virus, correct?

One would be if the dog actually could carry the virus in its blood and the second would be if contaminated bodily fluid was left on a dog from an infected person and was then "picked up" by a second person who came in contact with the fluid?

Ofcourse, this article does not remove the possibility a dog can transmit the disease but only that scientific testing has not established a yea or nay, right?

[taony]

How do Burmese fit into this paradigm of human/animals? No Thai agency seems to be worried about fairneaa towards them.

[whybother]

How do Burmese fit into this paradigm of human/animals? No Thai agency seems to be worried about fairneaa towards them.

How do Burmese fit into this story? Is the Public Health Ministry treating them differently with regards to Ebola?

Edited October 10, 2014 by whybother

[Thai at Heart]

Hundreds of thousands of people may die from this, and the Thais are wringing their hands over one dog?

[The stuttering parrot]

I think their barking up the wrong tree!

[ClutchClark]

Hundreds of thousands of people may die from this, and the Thais are wringing their hands over one dog?

It has been a global effort to save the dog...unfortunately the online petition failed to do so.

[PiPiFFS]

Hundreds of thousands of people may die from this, and the Thais are wringing their hands over one dog?

It isn't just the Thai's though. Thousands in Spain and others around the world have been trying to save this dog. I love dogs as much as the next person but if there is even a very small chance you could contract ebola from the dog it would have to go. Sorry

People seem to lose all sense of reality whenever a dog is involved

[noitom]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Hundreds of thousands of people may die from this, and the Thais are wringing their hands over one dog?

It has been a global effort to save the dog...unfortunately the online petition failed to do so.

The Thais are petrified that some disease starts to get passed by dogs since they have so many stray dogs roaming around . So its a CYA publicity to fend off fear.

[whybother]

Hundreds of thousands of people may die from this, and the Thais are wringing their hands over one dog?

It isn't just the Thai's though. Thousands in Spain and others around the world have been trying to save this dog. I love dogs as much as the next person but if there is even a very small chance you could contract ebola from the dog it would have to go. Sorry

People seem to lose all sense of reality whenever a dog is involved

What if the dog didn't have Ebola? Then there is zero chance of catching it.

[taony]

How do Burmese fit into this paradigm of human/animals? No Thai agency seems to be worried about fairneaa towards them.

How do Burmese fit into this story? Is the Public Health Ministry treating them differently with regards to Ebola?

"Nutch prasopsin, of the renowned Toon Hua Khong Bao Facebook page, said the Spanish government had over-reacted. "It was unfair to already judge that we should take away this life where there is no evidence showing [it has the disease]," she said. "An animal's life is as precious as that of a human being.""

Because we haven't seen any similar statements from Thai authorities regarding the lives of the accused, or even indeed, the lives of the deceased! Only a rush to get it over with to save their precious tourism. Without due justice, they are treating the Burmese suspects no better than that dog. Its only the Public Health Ministry speaking out, but at least that is on more ministry than is speaking out for justice, for both the deceased and the accused, in the Koh Tao case.

[whybother]

How do Burmese fit into this paradigm of human/animals? No Thai agency seems to be worried about fairneaa towards them.

How do Burmese fit into this story? Is the Public Health Ministry treating them differently with regards to Ebola?

"Nutch prasopsin, of the renowned Toon Hua Khong Bao Facebook page, said the Spanish government had over-reacted. "It was unfair to already judge that we should take away this life where there is no evidence showing [it has the disease]," she said. "An animal's life is as precious as that of a human being.""

Because we haven't seen any similar statements from Thai authorities regarding the lives of the accused, or even indeed, the lives of the deceased! Only a rush to get it over with to save their precious tourism. Without due justice, they are treating the Burmese suspects no better than that dog. Its only the Public Health Ministry speaking out, but at least that is on more ministry than is speaking out for justice, for both the deceased and the accused, in the Koh Tao case.

Oh. So the Burmese DON'T fit in to this story.

[Krataiboy]

No evidence of Ebola being passed by dogs

. . . it was unclear if the disease could be transmitted from dogs to humans (my italics)

[whybother]

No evidence of Ebola being passed by dogs

. . . it was unclear if the disease could be transmitted from dogs to humans (my italics)

Yes. They don't know if can be transmitted, but there is no evidence that it can be.

[NanLaew]

The Spanish authorities knee jerk reaction. The dog was at home with the nurses husband who is also under observation. The dog wasn't a soi dog wandering around the streets so it could have been safely observed at home as well.

Otherwise the logical extension of this is to euthanize the both of them?

[worgeordie]

Only a fool would be willing to take a chance the dog won't pass on Ebola,

this is a very serious disease ,Mother Natures way of thinning the population

i suppose.

regards Worgeordie

[whybother]

Only a fool would be willing to take a chance the dog won't pass on Ebola,

this is a very serious disease ,Mother Natures way of thinning the population

i suppose.

regards Worgeordie

Wouldn't it be smarter to check if the dog actually had ebola to pass it on?

[kutjebu]

What a relieve.....I just stopped with eating dog.

[PiPiFFS]

Hundreds of thousands of people may die from this, and the Thais are wringing their hands over one dog?

It isn't just the Thai's though. Thousands in Spain and others around the world have been trying to save this dog. I love dogs as much as the next person but if there is even a very small chance you could contract ebola from the dog it would have to go. Sorry

People seem to lose all sense of reality whenever a dog is involved

What if the dog didn't have Ebola? Then there is zero chance of catching it.

And what if the dog did have it and there was a chance of passing it on ?

How many people here would take in a dog that belonged to a person confirmed with ebola and take the chance that it can't pass on the virus to them or their family ?

As said this is a virus with a very high mortality rate and as such you need to take drastic and sometimes harsh measures.

[whybother]

And what if the dog did have it and there was a chance of passing it on ?

How many people here would take in a dog that belonged to a person confirmed with ebola and take the chance that it can't pass on the virus to them or their family ?

As said this is a virus with a very high mortality rate and as such you need to take drastic and sometimes harsh measures.

So, how about checking whether the dog had ebola or not? They can do that, you know!

[PiPiFFS]

And what if the dog did have it and there was a chance of passing it on ?

How many people here would take in a dog that belonged to a person confirmed with ebola and take the chance that it can't pass on the virus to them or their family ?

As said this is a virus with a very high mortality rate and as such you need to take drastic and sometimes harsh measures.

So, how about checking whether the dog had ebola or not? They can do that, you know!

Its a dog for crying out loud ! They are trying to contain a very dangerous disease.

I notice you didn't answer whether you would take in said dog into your family and risk it ?

[Thai at Heart]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Hundreds of thousands of people may die from this, and the Thais are wringing their hands over one dog?

It has been a global effort to save the dog...unfortunately the online petition failed to do so.

The Thais are petrified that some disease starts to get passed by dogs since they have so many stray dogs roaming around . So its a CYA publicity to fend off fear.

This would seem more valid reason. Would be a great excuse for a cull of street dogs

[Thai at Heart]

The Spanish authorities knee jerk reaction. The dog was at home with the nurses husband who is also under observation. The dog wasn't a soi dog wandering around the streets so it could have been safely observed at home as well.

Otherwise the logical extension of this is to euthanize the both of them?

What if it turned out that the dog was.positive and the husband wasn't?

[whybother]

And what if the dog did have it and there was a chance of passing it on ?

How many people here would take in a dog that belonged to a person confirmed with ebola and take the chance that it can't pass on the virus to them or their family ?

As said this is a virus with a very high mortality rate and as such you need to take drastic and sometimes harsh measures.

So, how about checking whether the dog had ebola or not? They can do that, you know!

Its a dog for crying out loud ! They are trying to contain a very dangerous disease.

I notice you didn't answer whether you would take in said dog into your family and risk it ?

Sure, I'd take it in, AFTER it had been tested for Ebola.

[Bluespunk]

The Spanish authorities knee jerk reaction. The dog was at home with the nurses husband who is also under observation. The dog wasn't a soi dog wandering around the streets so it could have been safely observed at home as well.

Otherwise the logical extension of this is to euthanize the both of them?

No it's not.

[Bluespunk]

"Nutch prasopsin, of the renowned Toon Hua Khong Bao Facebook page"

Renowned? Never heard of it.

[Dogmatix]

Never mind Thailand has a cure for Ebola for humans and for dogs. Sad about the dog executed in Spain for suspected Ebola. The Thai antidote could have saved him.

[jacky54]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Hundreds of thousands of people may die from this, and the Thais are wringing their hands over one dog?

It has been a global effort to save the dog...unfortunately the online petition failed to do so.

The Thais are petrified that some disease starts to get passed by dogs since they have so many stray dogs roaming around . So its a CYA publicity to fend off fear.

That disease is called rabies and already here, should be a mass cull of soi dogs, nothing but a health risk, a traffic hazard and a noise problem

[HeijoshinCool]

A dog gets 380,000 signatures ….

Two boys get 50,000 ….

[xminator]

Sort of a wet dream that they have to put down every stray dog in Thailand...