Coronavirus: pet dog belonging to Covid-19 patient infected, Hong Kong health authorities confirm
- Pomeranian has low-level infection and experts unanimously conclude human-to-animal transmission
- But experts also cite previous experience with Sars suggesting cats and dogs will not fall ill or transmit virus to people
A pet dog belonging to a Covid-19 patient has contracted the coronavirus, Hong Kong health authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
Experts called it a “low-level infection” that was likely to be the first reported case of human-to-animal transmission of the disease.
One respiratory disease expert questioned whether the dog could be declared infected without blood test results for final confirmation. The government only added to the confusion late on Wednesday when it issued a statement without clarifying that detail.
Previous experience with Sars suggests that cats and dogs will not become sick or transmit the virus to humans
“It is positive to tests and has been infected, so it is now quarantined in a centre by the department. Further tests will be conducted and it will not be released until the tests return negative results,” was all health minister Sophia Chan Siu-chee said during a regular press briefing on the epidemic.
