Madrid's regional government said it would kill the pet dog of a Spanish nursing assistant who became infected with Ebola — overcoming the family's objections on Tuesday with a court order, nbcnews.com reports.

The nursing assistant was the first person infected outside of West Africa, after caring for a Spanish priest who died of Ebola last month. Authorities have three people under quarantine and said that available scientific knowledge indicates there's a risk the dog could transmit the deadly virus to humans.

There has been some evidence that dogs can get Ebola, and that people can be infected by animals. In Africa, the virus has been thought to spread as a result of handling bushmeat — wild animals hunted for food — and through contact with infected bats.

"I think it's unfair that for a mistake they made they now want to solve it this way," the nurse’s husband wrote. "If they are so worried with this issue I think we can find another type of alternative solution, such as quarantining the dog and put him under observation like they did with me. Or should they sacrifice me as well just in case?"