Coronavirus: A pet cat is found to have viruses in the UK

A pet cat has tested positive in the UK for the coronavirus strain that is causing the current pandemic.

Experts say it is the first confirmed case of infection in an animal in the UK, but it does not mean that their pets transmit the disease to people.

The cat is believed to have caught its owner’s coronavirus, which had previously tested positive for the virus. Both have now recovered.

Health officials stress that the case is very rare and is not cause for alarm.

UK Veterinary Director Christine Middlemiss said: “This is a very rare event as infected animals detected to date only show mild clinical signs and recover within a few days.”

“There is no evidence to suggest that pets directly transmit the virus to humans. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and update our guide to pet owners if the situation changes.”

Yvonne Doyle, director of health protection for Public Health England, advised people to wash their hands regularly, even before and after contact with animals.

An animal’s coat could transmit the virus for a time if a pet had come into contact with someone who was sick.

A private veterinarian initially diagnosed feline herpes virus, a common respiratory infection in cats, but the sample was also tested for Sars-Cov-2 as part of a research program.

There have been a very small number of confirmed pet cases in other countries in Europe, North America, and Asia.

Daniella Dos Santos, president of the British Veterinary Association, said: “Our advice for pet owners who have Covid-19 or who self-isolate with symptoms remains to restrict contact with their pets as a precaution and to practice good hygiene. , including regular hand washing.

“We also recommend that owners who are confirmed or suspected to have Covid-19 should keep their cat indoors if possible, but only if the cat is happy to have it indoors. Some cats cannot stay indoors. interior due to medical reasons related to stress. “