A cat in the U.K. has recovered after being infected with the coronavirus, the country's first confirmed case in a pet, officials said.
It's believed the cat caught the virus from its owner, who has also now recovered.
"This is a very rare event, with infected animals detected to date only showing mild clinical signs and recovering within in a few days," chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said in a statement. "There is no evidence to suggest that pets directly transmit the virus to humans. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and will update our guidance to pet owners should the situation change."
The cat had been diagnosed with feline herpes virus, a common respiratory infection in cats, by a private veterinarian. The cat was also tested for the coronavirus as part of a research program. A follow up test by the Animal and Plant Health Agency confirmed the virus.
Officials have said that a pet's fur could possibly carry the virus for a time, if the animal has come into contact with someone who is infected, but there is no evidence showing pets can infect humans.
“The investigation into this case suggest(s) that the infection was spread from humans to animal, and not the other way round,” Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England said. “At this time, there is no evidence that pets can transmit the disease to humans.”
A small number of cases in pets have been reported around the world.
In April, eight big cats at the Bronx Zoo in New York tested positive, CNN reported. Three of eleven cats on a mink farm in the Netherlands have also tested positive. In May, a pet cat in Hong Kong also tested positive.
Cox Media Group
