Ebola: Bats identified as vectors of Ebola

The veterinarian of the Limbe Wildlife center has said bats are the main transmitters of the Ebola Virus.

Dr John was speaking to THE SUN in an exclusive chat following allegations that some animals are vectors of the virus.

According to the specialist, apes are not the original source of the disease but rather it is bats who are the main careers who can transmit it to the animals through their faeces, vomits or interactions with the animals, adding that animals around can equally contract it like human beings.

He also added that the symptoms of the Ebola disease on animals are the same with human beings such as high fever, bleeding, vomiting and diarrhea and that that there are also other diseases that can manifest these symptoms.

He intimated that if any of the symptoms are seen on the animals, they do various test in order to find out what it is suffering from.

Quizzed on possibilities of cases of Ebola in Cameroon, he said "they are no recorded cases of Ebola infected animals in Cameroon, although this can not be proven since they have not yet been tested for the disease in animals, but they are still cases where animals can still have it without manifesting the symptoms but we have not come across any suspected case here in the zoo".

Speaking on measures put in place to prevent this disease from affecting the animals, Dr. John said they are maintaining strict hygienic conditions on the part of the animals, with the cages of the animals thoroughly cleaned every morning with antiseptics.

“Other animals that are just brought in to the zoo from the public are not immediately sent to the enclosures, they are first kept in a quarantine where they are tested and studied for sometime, to ensure that they are healthy before sending them to where they belong.” He said.

The animal expert told THE SUN that considering the fact that these animals can also be contaminated by human beings, they are making sure that visitors who get in to the zoo don’t get too close to the animals and they don’t throw anything to the animals nor feed them because one cannot know who is a career.

He said they always make sure that the workers there put on their masks, boots, gloves and other protective wears when going close to the animals and that they make sure they wash their hands thoroughly every time they get in contact with the animals.

Dr John ended our chat by calling on everyone to help protect wildlife and to fight against the spread of Ebola.