The first-ever case of a pet dog diagnosed with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has made to headlines and put in quarantine after the diagnostic test came positive. This unique case has been reported by the officials from Hong Kong, explaining that a coronavirus positive patient’s dog was tested through oral and nasal samples. To everyone’s surprise, they came back “weak positive”, both The New York Times and Reuters have reported it.
The dog didn’t exhibit any signs of coronavirus before and it is still not clear if this dog is actually infected or not. There is no evidence to support if this coronavirus could be transmitted from a coronavirus patient to its pet or not.
As this new case was reported, The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has announced its interest to arrange more tests to find if coronavirus could be transmitted to animals (pets) or not.
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Some experts believe that there are high chances that this “weak positive” result is nothing but “environmental contamination,” effects. In one of its statements, the correspondent from The Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD) said;
“At present, the AFCD does not have evidence that pet animals can be infected… or can be a source of infection to people.”
Still, the officials are keeping the “infected” dog in quarantine for two weeks. The cases of coronavirus in Hong Kong have crossed 65 and they are increasing every week. This mysterious virus emerged from Wuhan, China in late December.
Ever since it has been identified, coronavirus has spread to the whole world and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it as a “public health emergency.” This is the first public health problem after the Zika epidemic emerged back in 2016.
Initially, it was thought that this virus has only affected China. But Wuhan being the hub of international travel and trade has made this virus transmit to several other counties. As soon as people traveled from Wuhan to other parts of the world, they unknowingly carried the virus with them which has made coronavirus spread to various countries including the USA, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Germany, and many other countries.
But on the other side, this virus has also infected people who have never been to Wuhan or any part of China. One such case was reported by PEOPLE where coronavirus was diagnosed in a person who did not travel anywhere out of the USA.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shared that this person has never been overseas and not been exposed to any coronavirus positive person. In a statement, a respondent from the CDC said;
“At this time, the patient’s exposure is unknown. It’s possible this could be an instance of community spread of COVID-19, which would be the first time this has happened in the United States.”
It further shared that “community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown. It’s also possible, however, that the patient may have been exposed to a returned traveler who was infected.”
The reported cases of coronavirus patients in the USA have reached 15 and it is still rising. Last week, San Fransisco Mayor London Breed has declared an emergency in the state to prevent coronavirus spread. In an announcement, Mayor Breed said that;
“Although there are still zero confirmed cases in San Francisco residents, the global picture is changing rapidly, and we need to step up preparedness.” She also added that;
“We see the virus spreading in new parts of the world every day, and we are taking the necessary steps to protect San Franciscans from harm.”
