According to a study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases on June 6, a human case of Covid-19 transmitted by a cat was reported from Thailand, according to the scientific journal Nature on Wednesday. Given the potential of the coronavirus to change the nature and scale of the pandemic, the researchers said the results of the study were “compelling” and that it was surprising that more of these cases had not been reported.
According to Sarunyou Chusri, co-author and infectious disease researcher at Prince of Songkla University in Thailand, this particular study was created “by chance.”
A father and son who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in August were reportedly kept in isolation at the university hospital, according to the study. The domestic cat also tested positive. The cat sneezed in the vet’s face as they swabbed her. The surgeon had no eye protection but was covered by gloves and a face mask. She developed a fever, sniffles, and cough three days later before testing. However, none of the surgeon’s close associates tested positive, indicating she had cat flu. Genetic testing proved that the vet and the cat shared the same variation.
Furthermore, the genome sequences of the virus are identical.
But first, a warning. Additionally, the Nature report states that cat-to-human transfers are probably infrequent. Infected cats “do not shed much virus and only shed for a few days,” according to experimental studies, according to Leo Poon, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong.
However, while handling cats that may be infected with Covid-19, all precautions should be taken, including wearing safety glasses. Leo Pun felt anxious. Other domestic animals, such as dogs, ferrets and rabbits, can also become infected with Covid, although there is little chance of the virus spreading to humans. Human infections have also been linked to hamsters in Hong Kong and farmed mink in Europe and North America. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, “Pets don’t have to worry about getting Covid-19 from you, but you should. Individuals with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 should avoid interaction with other people as well as domestic and wild animals.
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