The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed that the virus answerable for Covid-19 has been detected in a pet canine within the UK.
The an infection was confirmed following checks on the Animal and Plant Well being Company (APHA) laboratory in Weybridge on 3 November. The canine is now recovering at house.
All accessible proof means that the canine contracted the coronavirus from its homeowners who had beforehand examined optimistic for Covid-19. There isn’t any proof to recommend that the animal was concerned within the transmission of the illness to its homeowners or that pets or different home animals are in a position to transmit the virus to folks.
The recommendation from UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) is for folks to clean their palms frequently, together with earlier than and after contact with animals.
Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss stated:
Checks performed by the Animal and Plant Well being Company have confirmed that the virus answerable for Covid-19 has been detected in a pet canine within the UK. The contaminated canine was present process therapy for one more unrelated situation and is now recovering.
It is rather uncommon for canine to be contaminated and they’re going to often solely present delicate medical indicators and recuperate inside a number of days.
There isn’t any clear proof to recommend that pets straight transmit the virus to people. We’ll proceed to observe this example intently and can replace our steerage to pet homeowners ought to the state of affairs change.
Dr Katherine Russell, Advisor Medical Epidemiologist at UKHSA, stated:
COVID-19 is predominantly unfold from individual to individual however in some conditions the virus can unfold from folks to animals. According to normal public well being steerage, it is best to wash your palms frequently, together with earlier than and after contact with animals.
Pet homeowners can entry the most recent authorities steerage on tips on how to proceed to care for his or her animals throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
The case has been reported to the World Organisation for Animal Well being consistent with worldwide commitments. There have been a really small variety of confirmed circumstances in pets in different nations in Europe, North America and Asia.
