Also, outside of a laboratory, the infection relies on inhaling the viral particles of the infected person and normal contact is not necessary in infected animals. In the laboratory, ferrets are more likely to be infected with the virus, and have been shown to spread to other ferrets.
But Tufts scientists have reported in a paper that has not yet been peer-reviewed, that a house with 29 pets of ferrets and two men with cod has not been infected with the virus.
29 ferrets roamed freely in the house, and both human adults were sick enough to show symptoms with covid, so there was ample opportunity for infection. Caitlin Savtzky, a virologist at Tufts University and one of the authors of the Ferret Paper, said, “Isn’t that incredible? It was a beautiful natural experiment. “
Researchers have concluded that the infection may have genetic barriers that are overcome in the lab with concentrated doses of the virus. Minks, which belong to the same family as ferrets, become infected very easily, and become ill with the disease. Researchers have reported transmission from animals to humans at a mink farm in the Netherlands in a paper that has not yet been peer-reviewed. Dr. Savtzky said the paper showed “very strong evidence of multiple, independent mink-to-human transmission occasions.”
Colorado State researchers advise keeping cats indoors, especially if a householder is infected, as they can spread it to other cats. Also, if a person with covid needs to be hospitalized and has pet cats, Dr. Port suggested that cat keepers should know how to observe social distances like that person.
Infected cats that showed immunity, Dr. Bosco-Lauth said, were animals that were infected in contact with other cats, not through a pipette. And, he said, the immune system was stronger than some other laboratory animals, although it is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.
