basing reaction on outcome severity vs risk probability

Maintain other mammalian pets under household isolation with regular vet checks to ensure no clinical signs are observed. Remove rodent pets from a household to secure accommodation, isolate for Category 3 pathogen, maintain for 21 days and test negative ( PCR) for release. Some evidence from previous outbreaks of animal-to-animal transmission or rodent-to-human transmission. Level of confidence in assessment of riskĮvidence is incomplete for the susceptibility of endemic UK rodent populations to monkeypox infection, but there is evidence for non-native rodent susceptibility limited or no evidence for susceptibility of non-rodent mammalian pets. The probability of infection would be considered moderate to high for individuals interacting with infected pets (notably rodents) and their contaminated environments. Probability: general population – very low. Assessment of the risk of infection to the human population in the UK The evidence of susceptibility for non-rodent pets is poor or incomplete, and therefore a precautionary risk management process should be considered.īased on current evidence, for pet rodents in households where there are infected people, temporary removal from the household for a limited quarantine period (21 days) and testing to exclude infection is recommended, particularly where there are infected human contacts who have had close direct and prolonged contact with the animal or its bedding and/or litter.Īppropriate risk management for laboratory staff handling samples, or vets and animal health professionals handling or taking samples from the pets, should also be established. As rodents may not show clinical signs of infection, and the incubation period is unknown, testing to detect the presence of antibodies as well as virus would provide more confidence in ruling out infection.

It is unlikely (but cannot be ruled out) that an infected rodent pet could spread infection to peridomestic or wild rodents. It is concluded that the highest risk is posed by the presence of pet rodents, more so than lagomorphs, canids, felids and mustelids. The risk posed is therefore to the non-infected human contacts or in-contact peridomestic or wild rodents. In May 2022, human-to-human transmission of monkeypox virus was observed in several non-endemic countries, including the UK.ĭuring a previous monkeypox incident in the UK in 2018, a pet management process had to be swiftly implemented for one affected household, without conducting a risk assessment a priori.Īs the numbers of affected households in the UK related to the current outbreak are rapidly increasing, this warrants a more thorough assessment of the risk posed by mammalian pets exposed to monkeypox virus to people with whom they may come into contact.įor the purposes of the assessment, it is presumed the pet is present in the contaminated household of a confirmed human monkeypox case. Information on the risk assessment processes used by the HAIRS group can be found online. Reason for the assessment: Reports of human-to-human transmission of monkeypox virus in the UK concerns for pets in the homes of infected people.

Basing reaction on outcome severity vs risk probability