UK confirms first case of ‘very rare’ infection in pet cat

UK confirms first case of ‘very rare’ infection in pet cat
# 27 July 2020 18:51 (UTC +04:00)

The virus responsible for Covid-19 has been detected in a pet cat in the UK for the first time, APA reports citing the Independent.

The infection was confirmed following tests last week.

There is no evidence to suggest that the animal was involved in transmission of the disease to its owners or that pets can transmit the virus to people.

Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said it was “very rare” for a cat to contract the virus.

To date infected animals show only mild signs of the disease and recover within a few days.

Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England, said: “This is the first case of a domestic cat testing positive for Covid-19 in the UK but should not be a cause for alarm.

The investigation into this case suggests that the infection was spread from humans to animal, and not the other way round.

At this time, there is no evidence that pets can transmit the disease to humans.”

Experts said the available evidence suggested that the cat contracted Covid-19 from its owners, who had previously tested positive.

All, including the cat, have since made a full recovery.

Public Health England advises people to wash their hands regularly, including before and after contact with animals.

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