The outbreak of the coronavirus is causing major panic throughout the world. Otherwise known as COVID-19, coronavirus attacks the respiratory system, causing fever, cough, and shortness of breath. It’s high rate of contagiousness is causing schools, airports, and stores to close. People are avoiding going outside to protect their own health, but should they be worried about their own pets as well?
On February 28, the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department released a statement announcing that a dog had contracted a low-level infection from its owner. However, it was undetermined by scientists on whether the pooch was actually infected or if it had only picked up traces of the virus from a contaminated surface. For now, South China Morning reports that the dog will now “remain under quarantine with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for further testing.”
Experts say that people should not be worried about their dogs and cats giving them the coronavirus. As an extra precaution, however, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention recommends that if you do contract the coronavirus, you should ask someone else to take care of your pet for the time being before they contract it themselves. The Pomeranian that had tested positive for coronavirus was reported to show no symptoms of the illness. Professor Vanessa Barrs of City University believes that the same conclusions made from the SARS outbreak regarding animals apply to the coronavirus in that dogs can contract infections, but will most likely not fall ill or infect other humans.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) reports to the Morning Post that they wish to remind the public that “there is no evidence that companion animals can transmit the disease to humans,” and therefore the public should not panic or go to the extent of abandoning their pets. The case of this Pomeranian, they stress, is a result of it being around a sick owner and picking up a low level infection from surfaces in the house. Scientists say there is evidence that pets will not spread the coronavirus, so people can continue safely cuddling with their four-legged friends.