Can My Dog Or Cat Give Me the Coronavirus?

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Dogs wearing masks are seen in a stroller in Shanghai on February 19, 2020. – The death toll from China’s new coronavirus epidemic jumped past 2,000 on February 19 after 136 more people died, with the number of new cases falling for a second straight day, according to the National Health Commission. (Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP) (Photo by NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images)

There’s some good news on the coronavirus front: Pet cats and dogs cannot pass the virus on to humans, however, they can test positive for low levels of the pathogen if they catch it from their owners.

The Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department reached that conclusion after a dog in quarantine tested weak positive for the virus, using the canine’s nasal and oral cavity samples. A department spokesman said in a news release:

“There is currently no evidence that pet animals can be a source of infection of COVID-19 or that they become sick.”

Scientists suspect the virus that causes the disease originated in bats before passing it on to another species, possibly a small wild mammal, that then passed it on to humans.

Experts from several institutions agree, however, that the dog has a low level of infection and it is “likely to be a case of human-to-animal transmission.” In general, pet owners should maintain good hygiene, including not kissing their pets and washing hands before and after handling animals and their food, authorities say.

People who are sick should avoid contact with pets and a veterinarian’s advice should be sought if changes in a pet’s health conditions are detected. The department spokesman said:

“Apart from maintaining good hygiene practices, pet owners need not be overly concerned and under no circumstances should they abandon their pets.”

The dog, and another in quarantine that has tested negative for the virus, will be tested again before being released.

In case you missed it: Can Sleeping With Your Pet Kill You?

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Professor Mike

Professor Mike is a left-leaning, dog loving, political junkie. He has written dozens of articles for Substack, Medium, Simily, and Tribel. Professor Mike has been published at Smerconish.com, among others. He is a strong proponent of the environment, and a passionate protector of animals. In addition he is a fierce anti-Trumper. Take a moment and share his work.

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