In rare cases, your cat can give you COVID

The primary reported case of a cat giving COVID-19 to an individual should not alarm pet house owners, however a Canadian professional says it is a reminder to take precautions.

“I believe it is necessary for us to acknowledge this virus nonetheless can transfer between species,” veterinary specialist Dr. Scott Weese just lately instructed the New York Occasions.

The case involving unfold of SARS-CoV-2 from a cat to a veterinarian in Thailand did not come as shock as a result of pet-to-human transmission has lengthy appeared doable, in accordance with Weese, a professor on the College of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary Faculty. He’s additionally director of the college’s Centre for Public Well being and Zoonoses.

For the final two years, Weese and his colleagues have carried out in depth analysis on transmission of COVID between people and animals. They’ve targeted on cats as a result of they’re at greater threat for respiratory infections.

And different research have proven that pet house owners can infect their cats and that cats can generally infect one another.

In a latest put up on his Worms & Germs weblog, Weese famous that he is been warning that individuals who work together with animals ought to take precautions to keep away from an infection with the coronavirus.

“I have been fairly assured it was doable, which is why we have carried out animal surveillance and spent a number of time creating and speaking sensible however proactive steerage to veterinarians to cut back the chance of simply such an occasion,” he wrote.

Even so, Weese stated most “cat house owners should not have a lot to fret about,” as a result of it is most definitely that contaminated cats get the virus from their contaminated house owners.

That was apparently what occurred within the first confirmed case of cat-to-human transmission. The case, reported within the July version of Rising Infectious Ailments, concerned a pair in Thailand, their cat and a veterinarian.

The person and his spouse each received COVID, and have been hospitalized. Their cat was taken to animal hospital, the place it sneezed within the vet’s face throughout an examination. The vet was masked however her eyes have been unprotected. Three days later, she received sick. Each the vet and the cat later examined constructive, in accordance with the case examine.

Although an contaminated cat might unfold the illness, Weese wrote on his weblog, the chances of a cat bringing SARS-CoV-2 right into a family are “actually low.”

However cat house owners have to take precautions if somebody within the house will get COVID, as a result of cats might get contaminated and unfold it to different individuals and pets within the family, in accordance with Weese.

“If I’ve COVID-19 and transfer to the basement to avoid everybody, I ought to maintain my cat away from me too [or keep it with me and away from everyone else],” he wrote.

Weese supplied related recommendation within the Occasions.

“For those who’re making an attempt to avoid individuals since you’re doubtlessly infectious, simply attempt to avoid animals on the similar time,” he stated.


Can your pet get COVID-19?


Extra info:
For extra on pets and COVID-19, see the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

Sila T. et al, Suspected cat-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2, Thailand, July–September 2021, Rising Infectious Ailments (2022). DOI: 10.3201/eid2807.212605

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