There is a cat in Belgium tested positive for the new SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus, genetic material of the virus has been detected. According to information from the German Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), the Federal Research Center for Animal Health, the cat comes from from a household with a person who had Covid-19 and showed corresponding symptoms.
What exactly is the corona virus?
A week later, the cat also showed symptoms of the disease: She suffered from shortness of breath, vomiting and diarrhea and was then examined. No further signs of disease have been clarified, the cat is currently recovering.
According to FLI the Belgian authorities consider the sick cat as an isolated case and point out "that the symptoms indicate Covid-19, but this is not clearly proven".
Can dogs and cats transmit the corona virus to humans?
What does this message mean for pet owners in Germany? Can contact with dogs and cats lead to infection with the coronavirus? Do the owners have to protect the animals from infection? The Friedrich Loeffler Institute provides the following information:
- There are No evidence that dogs or cats pose a human infection risk or play a role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2. In the Covid 19 pandemic, human-to-human transmission is critical for dissemination.
- Of the Contact of healthy people with pets is essential according to the information currently available from the perspective of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut not be restricted.
- As a general precaution, it is always advisable to observe basic principles of hygiene when coming into contact with animals. Then avoid touching your face and wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
- The experts also emphasize:
There is no reason to leave pets in animal shelters as a precaution. If a pet is tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, there is also no reason to put the animal to sleep.
This also applies to dogs: there are reports from Hong Kong of two dogs in which genetic material of the virus was found. However, the dogs did not show any symptoms of the disease, it is unclear whether it was an active infection. "Both dogs showed no symptoms of illness, one was released after more than two weeks of quarantine and a negative test result, the other is in quarantine and is being examined further," reports the Friedrich Loeffler Institute.
Can pets like dogs and cats become infected in sick people?
The Friedrich Loeffler Institute advises people infected with the corona virus to exercise caution when handling animals.
- Since people with disease symptoms in particular excrete large amounts of viruses through the mouth and nose, they should pay particular attention to hygiene when contacting their pets, avoiding as close contact as possible, do not cough or sneeze the animals and do not let the animals lick their faces.
- A separate quarantine for dogs and cats by pet owners who are themselves under domestic quarantine is currently not recommended.
- However, in individual cases and if symptoms occur in the animals, a test for a SARS-CoV-2 infection may be advisable in order to obtain further information on contagion scenarios. In this case, the responsible health authority should contact the veterinary authority.
- Those who are in quarantine should, if possible ask other people for support in caring for the animals, something when walking the dog.
- Only young and healthy people who have experience in dealing with dogs, depending on the character of the dog, should act as walkers.
- For safety, the walker should use his own leash – and always wash his hands after going for a walk.
The Friedrich Loeffler Institute offers many other tips on dealing with pets during the corona pandemic on its website: www.fli.de.
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Sources used: fli.de, lesoir.be