Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Ebola: Texas nurse Nina Pham's dog saved from being euthanised by officials

Bentley has been quarantined in a secret location

Heather Saul
Wednesday 15 October 2014 10:09 BST
Comments
Nina Pham, pictured with her dog Bentley, became the first person to contract the deadly virus in Dallas,Texas at the weekend
Nina Pham, pictured with her dog Bentley, became the first person to contract the deadly virus in Dallas,Texas at the weekend (Facebook)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A dog found in the apartment of a female health worker who contracted Ebola in the US has been placed in quarantine and is being cared for isolation, officials have revealed.

Nina Pham became the first person to contract the deadly virus in Dallas, Texas at the weekend. Ms Pham had been in close contact with deceased victim Thomas Eric Duncan while treating him before his death last Wednesday.

Officials in Spain put down nurse Teresa Romero’s dog Excalibur after she contracted Ebola, despite angry protests from animal rights activists and outrage on social media.

But instead of euthanising Ms Pham’s Cavalier King Charles spaniel Bentley, County Judge Clay Jenkins ordered Dallas Animal Services to take it into quarantine. Bentley will be monitored for at least 21 days for any signs of the virus before he is released from isolation.

Judge Jenkins told USA Today the family urged her not to protect the dog after Ms Pham was hospitalised. He said her parents told him: “This dog is important to her, judge. Don't let anything happen to the dog.

Bentley, the one-year-old King Charles Spaniel belonging to Nina Pham, the nurse who contracted Ebola, has been taken from Pham's Dallas apartment and will be cared for at an undisclosed location
Bentley, the one-year-old King Charles Spaniel belonging to Nina Pham, the nurse who contracted Ebola, has been taken from Pham's Dallas apartment and will be cared for at an undisclosed location (AP/Courtesy of Sana Syed/PIO, City of Dallas)

“If that dog has to be The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, we're going to take good care of that dog.”

Officials are still unsure as to whether dogs can transmit Ebola to humans and the risk posed by keeping Bentley alive remains unclear. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is working to develop official guidance for Ebola cases involving pets.

Officials have said they do not know how the virus infected Ms Pham, who was one of 70 people wearing protective gear while caring for Mr Duncan. The 26-year-old is currently being treated in isolation at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.

Dr. Brett Giroir, who was appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to lead a task force on infectious disease preparedness, said on CNN that every person at the Dallas hospital who had any contact with Mr Duncan was interviewed by the CDC and local health authorities and assessed for risk.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in