Will my dog and cat get Zika because of all the mosquitoes by our pond?

7/31/2016

Zika virus was first discovered in a monkey with a mild fever in the Zika Forest of Uganda in the 1940s. Nonhuman primates (apes and monkeys) have shown the ability to become infected with Zika virus; but, only a few naturally and experimentally infected monkeys and apes have had any signs of illness at all, and then it was only a mild, transient fever without any other symptoms. A small number of monkeys were reported to have Zika virus in one study done in 2016 in an area of Brazil with high numbers of human illness. More research is needed to better understand the potential for monkeys and apes to be reservoirs for Zika virus. The prevalence of Zika virus in monkeys and other nonhuman primates is currently unknown.

There is also limited evidence from one study done in Indonesia in the late 1970s that horses, cows, carabaos (water buffaloes), goats, ducks, and bats could become infected with Zika, but there is no evidence that they develop disease or pose a risk for Zika virus transmission to humans. There have not been any reports of pets or other types of animals becoming sick with Zika virus. More information on Zika virus transmission is available here.

Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (A. aegypti and A. albopictus). These are the same mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya viruses. At this time there have been no reports of other animals becoming sick with Zika or of being able to spread Zika to people or other animals.

What we know

At this time, animals do not appear to be involved in the spread of Zika virus.
There is no evidence that Zika virus is spread to people from contact with animals.
There have not been any reports of pets or other types of animals becoming sick with Zika virus. However, more research is needed to better understand Zika virus in animals.

It is a good idea to protect your pets from mosquitoes. Mosquitoes do transmit other diseases such as heartworm disease and West Nile Virus from pet to pet, which, if left untreated, will cause your pet to die. DEET, which we use to repel mosquitoes can cause neurological signs in pets such as seizures and is not recommended. We do recommend a few topical flea and tick medications that prevent mosquito bites to pets in high mosquito areas.

Other things you can do around your home to help decrease your mosquito numbers would be to eliminate all standing water from planters, tires, bird baths, pools, fire pits and trash containers. These are breeding grounds for the insects and dumping water and cleaning help in the elimination process. Also use your air conditioner when able and keep your windows closed. If you do like to open your windows make sure your screens are in good condition with no holes or tears that would allow mosquitoes inside your home.