A coronavirus patient’s dog has tested “weak positive” for the killer bug after allegedly contracting it from his infected owner.
Hong Kong-based Yvonne Chow Hau Yee took her Pomeranian to a clinic where the vets have collected nasal, rectal, and oral samples.
After the testing was completed, it was revealed that the pooch tested weak positive to the novel coronavirus.
According to the region’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, however, there is no “evidence that pet animals can be infected with COVID-19 virus” and the dog didn’t show any symptoms of being infected.
“The AFCD does not have evidence that pet animals can be infected with COVID-19 virus or can be a source of infection to people,” the officials announced.
As per the local reports, the Pomeranian will stay quarantined for two weeks whereas additional tests will be repeatedly taken to come to the bottom of the case.
While it is not believed that the coronavirus could likely spread to pets, the spokesperson for the AFCD insisted that owners should wash their hands after petting their animals and maintain hygiene.
They also urged pet owners to visit vets if their animals start experiencing changes in their health condition.
According to the reports, this is the first reported coronavirus case affecting a pet.
Previously, the authorities have expressed their fears over the existing 14-day coronavirus quarantine, claiming that the period isn’t long enough after a senior man needed almost a month to develop symptoms.
According to the reports of the local government in the province of Hubei, a 70-year-old man who got infected with the novel coronavirus only showed symptoms 27 days later.
As the government explained, the man visited his infected sister in Shennongjia, Hubei, on January 24. It wasn’t until recently, however, that he began showing symptoms of the infection.
Following this discovery, experts fear that the existing WHO-approved quarantine period might be too short and that people completing the 14-day period could still infect others provided they carry the killer virus.
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Replaced!