Can pets be infected with the new coronavirus? Can they be transmitted to humans? Here is the authoritative answer

Recently, epidemics have occurred in many places across the country. While cooperating with epidemic prevention work, many netizens are also worried about their "furry children" at home.

Netizens have raised questions: Can pet dogs and cats be infected with the new coronavirus? If infected, can they be transmitted to humans? What should be done with pets after their owners are quarantined?

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Can dogs and cats infected with the new coronavirus transmit it to humans?

Earlier, Lu Hongzhou, a member of the National Health Commission's Disease Prevention and Control Expert Committee, pointed out in an interview with CCTV:

"There have been individual reports of people transmitting the virus to pet dogs and cats after being infected, but there is no evidence that these infected pets have become ill, and there have been no cases of them transmitting the virus back to humans."

Image source: CCTV News screenshot

Dr. Dong Jun from the Animal Hospital of China Agricultural University also popularized science on social media:

"Human coronaviruses, including SARS and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and the new coronavirus, can cause diseases that endanger human health after undergoing different mutations.

As for pet coronavirus, there has not been any serious disease that endangers pet health. So it is different from human coronavirus. There is no evidence to prove that pet coronavirus is the same as human coronavirus or cross-infected. "

What happens if the owner is quarantined?

Many people are worried about what will happen to pets after their owners are quarantined?

Dong Jun pointed out that in most cases, the people under quarantine are close contacts and secondary close contacts, and they have not necessarily contracted the new coronavirus. It is recommended that pets and their owners be quarantined together.

"First of all, we must respect the epidemic prevention policies of various regions, respect the advice of local epidemic prevention leading groups and experts, and take corresponding measures based on the actual conditions of various places." Bu Zhigao, director of the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, emphasized, "I personally suggest that pet dogs that have close contact with positive infected people should be isolated for a period of time if conditions permit, and the environment should be disinfected. At the same time, oral, nasal and fecal swabs should be collected for multiple dynamic tests of viral nucleic acid or antigen. The current detection methods used for humans, whether nucleic acid or antigen testing, are applicable to dogs. This is a more scientific and rational approach, and the risks are controllable."

During the epidemiological investigation, we cannot ignore the testing of pets, or even the isolation and observation. However, any rough or excessive treatment of pets is not advisable.

How to protect pets?

But how do you quarantine your pet? Will other issues arise if you quarantine your pet at home?

Shenzhen’s approach may be worth learning from.

Image source: Screenshot of Shenzhen Health Commission’s official Weibo account

At present, Shenzhen has established a pet centralized care center located in Jingkou Community, Guangming Street, Guangming District. After it is officially put into operation, the maximum capacity for pet care for dogs and cats will be 300. It can provide observation, care, health monitoring and medical insurance services for the pets of people in centralized isolation for COVID-19.

A Shenzhen netizen posted a photo of his pet receiving a certificate of honor after being quarantined, with the words "Little Anti-epidemic Hero" written on it.

In the face of the epidemic,

Don't believe in rumors, don't spread rumors,

Strengthen the management of pets.

It is the best protection for them.

Isolate the virus, but never isolate love!

Further reading:

Suddenly received a quarantine notice?

Please keep this list

Comprehensive sources: Science and Technology Daily, China News Network, Xinhuanet, National Emergency Broadcasting Network, etc.