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Dog suspected of re-introducing disease to Liberia tests negative

Monkeys and Pigs are known to be able to carry Ebola, although there has never been proof that dogs can.

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Initial test results on a dead dog suspected of being the possible source for the re-emergence of Ebola in Liberia has tested negative for the disease.

Residents of the community where Liberia's first Ebola victim since the country was declared Ebola-free in early May say the deceased had shared a dog meat meal with residents shortly before he died on June 28.

Subsequently, researchers retrieved the carcass of the dog from the village of Nedowein in Margibi County and tested the remains for Ebola.

A health official in Liberia however urged caution because "the remains are in bad condition and the test is designed for humans,"

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Also, the deputy head of Liberia's Ebola response team, Francis Ketteh, could not immediately confirm the findings to Reuters.

He however said that "even if that dog had anything, finding it now will be difficult because of the time lapse" he added that the research team was trying to do everything to find the source.

Liberia was declared Ebola free in May after a long battle with the disease, and it's resurgence in the country has baffled experts especially since the first victim, 17-year-old Abraham Memaigar, lived far from the borders and had no known history of visiting infected areas.

Liberia has since reported two more cases linked to the first, both of which have been hospitalised.

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