COVID-19 has taken over the world. It is not only confined to humans but also spreading in animals. On Wednesday, two pet cats have been tested positive for novel Coronavirus in New York.
This is the first confirmed cases in the US wherein COVID-19 is tested positive in pet animals. Both the cats were prone to mild respiratory illnesses might have contracted the virus from the people who pet them or the neighborhood, as per the US Department of Agriculture and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Both the cats live in different parts of the State. The first fell ill about a week ago after a person in its household developed a short respiratory illness who was later tested negative for the virus. Apparently, the animal got the virus while going outdoors. The second cat’s symptoms included coughing and runny nose and its owner was tested positive for COVID-19 before the cat became sick. Another cat in the same house hasn’t shown any signs of illness.
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This is not the first time, some tigers and lions at the Bronx Zoo were also tested positive for Coronavirus. The 4-year-old Malayan tiger, named Nadia, was tested positive and started showing the sign of illness after 11 days after the Zoo closed for the public. Later, three other tigers and lions showed symptoms.
The confirmed cases of the virus in animals are not many. As far as can be determined, some animals can get the virus from people, and therefore there is no indication of pets transmitting it to humans.
People are afraid of pets and as a result there are also stories of abandoning the pets coming up. For now the Coronavirus testing kits can not be used on animals unless an animal has been exposed to a person with the virus. The animal tests are conducted at veterinary labs with the use of different chemicals than human tests. Due to the crisis, there has been a situation of short supply.
“We don’t want people to panic. We don’t want people to be afraid of pets”, said Dr. Casey Barton Behravesh, a CDC official who works on humteaman-animal health connections.
CDC is suggesting people to prevent their pets from animals and people outside their homes. Scientists examining the virus have been looking at links between humans and animals. They are working to understand the potential for transmission to animals in homes, farms, and elsewhere.
It is suggested that any pet owners with COVID-19 should avoid snuggling or any other contact with their animals and recommended wearing a face mask while caring for them. There have been a handful of reports outside the U.S. of pet dogs or cats becoming infected after close contact with contagious people, including a Hong Kong dog that tested positive for a low level of the pathogen in February and early March. Hong Kong agriculture authorities concluded that pet dogs and cats couldn’t pass the virus to human beings but could test positive if exposed by their owners.
