The UK’s chief veterinary officer on Monday revealed that for the primary time the virus accountable for Covid-19 has been detected in a pet cat, however added that there isn’t a proof of the pet transmitting the virus to homeowners or different animals.
The an infection was confirmed following exams on the Animal and Plant Well being Company laboratory in Weybridge on July 22. Well being officers reiterated their recommendation to scrub arms frequently, together with earlier than and after contact with animals.
All accessible proof means that the cat contracted the coronavirus from its homeowners who had beforehand examined optimistic for Covid-19. The cat and its homeowners have since made a full restoration and there was no transmission to different animals or individuals within the family.
Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss stated: “It is a very uncommon occasion with contaminated animals detected to this point solely displaying gentle scientific indicators and recovering inside in just a few days. There is no such thing as a proof to counsel that pets straight transmit the virus to people”.
Yvonne Doyle of Public Well being England added: “That is the primary case of a home cat testing optimistic for Covid-19 within the UK however shouldn’t be a trigger for alarm. The investigation into this case counsel that the an infection was unfold from people to animal, and never the opposite approach spherical.
Officers stated the pet cat was initially recognized by a personal vet with feline herpes virus, a typical cat respiratory an infection, however the pattern was additionally examined for SARS-CoV-2 as a part of a analysis programme.
Comply with-up samples examined on the laboratory confirmed the cat was additionally co-infected with SARS-CoV2 which is the virus recognized to trigger Covid-19 in people. There have been a really small variety of confirmed instances in pets in different international locations in Europe, North America and Asia.