In the current Covid-19 pandemic situation, experts recommend avoiding contact with animals, including pets, and washing hands with soap and water after touching pets.
Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission from Humans to Animals
According to a study published in Live Science, scientists have discovered that among the pets of individuals who have recovered from Covid-19, approximately two-thirds of cats and over 40% of dogs have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. This indicates that these pets have been infected with the virus in the past.
According to the CDC (USA), reports of animals infected with SARS-CoV-2 have been recorded in many countries around the world. Most of these animals contracted the disease after contact with individuals infected with Covid-19, including owners, caregivers, or other close contacts.
Dogs and cats have a very high rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection from humans.
Melita Vujnovic, a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Russia, also stated that there is evidence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from humans to animals, although this is considered a virus strain originating from animals.
“Some animals such as ferrets, dogs, domestic cats, lions, tigers, and pandas have been in contact with infected individuals and tested positive for Covid-19,” Vujnovic stated. “Research on the virus’s impact on other animal species is ongoing.”
Additionally, health experts emphasize the need to understand which animals are “most susceptible to the virus” in order to identify other potential outbreaks and prevent future surges.
Fortunately, most pets with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies show no symptoms or only mild symptoms. About 20% of the 54 pet dogs exhibited symptoms such as decreased energy levels, loss of appetite, and coughing, but these symptoms disappeared quickly. Meanwhile, around 27% of the 48 pet cats showed symptoms including a runny nose and difficulty breathing.
Risk of Animals Transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to Humans
Scientific findings indicate that Covid-19 poses a “very high” risk of transmission from humans to pets, but not vice versa.
Based on current evidence and information, the CDC states that the risk of animals spreading Covid-19 to humans is considered low to very low. Specifically, there is still no evidence indicating that animals play a significant role in spreading SARS-CoV-2 to humans.
The United Nations health agency also affirmed: “The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 primarily spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets or aerosol particles in the air, produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.”
In February 2020, local media in China reported that some residents in Hebei Province even threw dogs and cats from high floors of apartments out of fear of contracting SARS-CoV-2 from them.
The WHO later stated that there is no scientific evidence that dogs and cats can transmit SARS-CoV-2 to humans, and recommended that people should not abandon their pets out of excessive worry.
Nevertheless, health experts still advise the public to exercise caution when caring for pets. It is essential to wash hands after each interaction with pets, ensure they are fully vaccinated, and seek medical attention immediately if bitten or scratched, regardless of whether there is an outbreak.
New Findings on Dogs and Cats Infected with Covid-19
A team of experts in the UK discovered the first pets infected with the Alpha variant. Notably, they exhibited myocarditis after contracting the disease.
The authors found that dogs and cats could be infected with the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7, first identified in the UK). They identified these as the first household pets infected with the new nCoV variant.
Dogs and cats infected with the Alpha variant show signs of myocarditis.
According to the research team, all 26 pets in their study had acute heart disease, including severe myocarditis. Notably, two of the pet owners also exhibited severe myocarditis related to Covid-19 afterward.
Among them, 7 household pets (including 6 cats and one dog) were selected for nCoV testing. Their history included direct contact with the owner who had Covid-19. The pets had no history of travel or leaving the UK and were aged between 1-12 years.
Additionally, 4 other pets (two cats and two dogs) were also tested for nCoV antibodies during the recovery phase, 2-6 weeks after showing heart disease symptoms. Their owners had respiratory symptoms before the pets exhibited illness weeks later. They were subsequently confirmed to have Covid-19.
“Our study found the first cases of dogs and cats affected by the Alpha variant. The clinical symptoms were atypical and characterized by severe abnormalities in the heart. This is a complication seen in Covid-19 patients but has never been described in pets,” said Dr. Luca Ferasin, the lead author of the study from the Ralph Veterinary Centre.
However, the cause and mechanism behind the myocarditis condition in these pets have yet to be determined.
Furthermore, the research team emphasized that pets infected with Covid-19 remain a relatively rare occurrence. Based on their observations, scientists believe that there is still no evidence of reverse transmission of nCoV from pets to humans.
