The Guelph Humane Society issued the following news release Thursday about the temporary closure of the shelter as a result of the discovery of a suspected case of ringworm in a cat in the shelter:
The Guelph Humane Society has announced precautionary measures that shelter management have put into place to deal with a case of suspected ringworm. Staff responsible for the shelter’s disease surveillance protocol identified suspicious skin lesions on Wednesday.
Operations Manager Deb Gray reports that “one cat with suspicious skin lesions was identified and is currently being isolated while we await definitive test results.  Unfortunately, testing may take up to three weeks to confirm what we are dealing with.  In the meantime, we are taking every precaution to protect other animals in the shelter from being exposed, and we want to ensure that we protect the public from the small risk that this infection that can be transmitted to people.” Gray says this includes testing and treatment of all animals in the shelter and the use of enhanced infection control practices.
The shelter was closed to all visitors and volunteers Wednesday and will remain closed for adoptions and animal-related traffic for the next week.  Noted veterinary infectious disease expert Dr. Scott Weese from the Ontario Veterinary College has been involved in advising the shelter on how to manage the situation.  “The risk to the public and animals outside the shelter is minimal.  Anyone who has visited the shelter in the past week or adopted an animal recently should watch for skin lesions, particularly circular, reddened and scaly skin lesions, and see their physician if they have any concerns. Similarly, if skin problems are observed in pets that have  recently been adopted from the shelter or animals that have been in contact with newly adopted pets are identified, the animal should be evaluated by a veterinarian”, he said.  A fact sheet on the disease is available from Weese’s ‘Worms and Germs’ blog found at http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com.  Public health officials in Wellington County were also contacted today to inform them of the situation and to support further communication with the public on this issue.
Board chair Dr. Shane Bateman said: “The situation is a fluid one.  We are acting proactively in an effort to contain and limit the impact of the suspected case that was detected by Shelter staff.  We will have more information in the next week or so and will provide an update and determine next steps at that time.    “In the meantime, anyone who has adopted a pet in the last 7 days and that may have been exposed to the suspected case, and all other individuals with known potential exposure are being contacted to provide additional information.
“With an early, aggressive and organized approach, the risk of ringworm transmission and development of an outbreak can be greatly reduced. A rapid response is critical’, re-iterated Weese.
Ringworm is a fungal (mould) infection of the skin and hair follicles that is more common in situations where there is a high density of animals that are under stress. It’s not life-threatening. Once exposed, the incubation period is between four days and four weeks.
For more information, visit www.guelph-humane.on.ca.