Dallas nurse who survived Ebola must wait for dog

This Oct. 22, 2014, photo provided via Twitter by the City of Dallas and Dallas Animal Services shows Bentley, the King Charles Spaniel who was quarantined after his owner, Nina Pham, was diagnosed with Ebola, in Dallas. AP

DALLAS — A Texas nurse who has recovered from Ebola must wait to see her King Charles spaniel, Bentley.

Nina Pham returned to Dallas late Friday after her release from the National Institutes of Health. She has repeatedly tested virus-free and said she was looking forward to seeing Bentley.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said Saturday the reunion will have to wait until the dog is released Nov. 1 from a quarantine period. Jenkins said officials must make sure the dog is virus-free and cannot infect others. Pham is now immune.

Jenkins said veterinarians are concerned that if Pham visits the dog, it might affect Bentley’s behavior and make it harder to monitor for potential symptoms.

Pham contracted Ebola while caring for a Liberian man, Thomas Eric Duncan, who died Oct. 8.

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