Two cats in New York have become the first pets to screen positive forCovid-19 in the US , shortly after it was announced atiger in the Bronx zoohad abridge the unwellness from one of the keepers .
The diagnoses were announced by federal officials on Wednesday , who reported the cases of two cats with meek respiratory illnesses . The animals are expect to make a full recovery , having caught the virus from either their respective owners or mayhap people in the residential district , according to the US Department of Agriculture and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) .
The first of the two cat became disturbed with mild symptoms of coughing and a fluid nose about one week after its owner had a balmy unwellness . Whether the owner had been sick with Covid-19 or something else was n’t able-bodied to be confirm , but it ’s also possible the cat picked it up off someone on the street . The proprietor of the second bozo screen positive for Covid-19 before the animal became sick , but a second Arabian tea in the home has n’t show any symptom .
TheCDChas urged the great unwashed not to panic at the news program or boot to get their animals test . “ We do n’t want people to panic . We do n’t require people to be afraid of pet , ” said Dr Casey Barton Behravesh , a CDC functionary who works on human - animal wellness connections , to theAssociated Press . “ There ’s no grounds that ducky are play a role in spreading this disease to people . ”
The persuasion has been echoed by White House ’s top medical adviser on the coronavirus outbreak , Dr Anthony Fauci , who state during Wednesday ’s press briefing that as of yet there has been nothing to indicate that the computer virus can make pass from a favorite to its possessor . Despite this , the CDC still recommends , where possible , that people obviate interact with darling on the street and try out to keep their own pet from interact with masses or other animals outside of the home .
This is n’t the first time that extremity of the feline family have try out positive for the SARS - CoV-2 coronavirus , after it was find several Leo and tigers had concentrate the disease at the Bronx Zoo . The number of fauna confirmed to have the disease remains down worldwide , and while deficient testing in all likelihood means the actual number might be a turn higher , the US authorities stress that while it seems pet can catch the virus from humans , there ’s been nothing to suggest that humans can get the computer virus from pet cats or dogs . The CDC has , however , advised that it ’s good to avoid cuddling with your pet and to wear a cheek masquerade when caring for beast if you know you are sick with Covid-19 .
