WHO confirms that humans can infect pets with coronavirus
The World Health Organization has established that a person can infect both domestic and wild animals with COVID-19, RIA Novosti reports, citing the organization's representative in Russia, Melita Vuinovich.
According to Vujnovic, the virus spreads mainly from person to person, but scientists have managed to obtain evidence of transmission through the human-animal channel – this is a zoonotic virus. The intermediate host has not yet been found.
“Several animals – minks, dogs, domestic cats, lions, tigers and raccoon dogs – who have come into contact with infected people have tested positive for COVID-19. The process of studying the effect of the virus on other species of animals is underway, ”said Vujnovic.
Understanding which animal species are most susceptible to the virus is important to find other potential animal reservoirs. This will avoid repeated outbreaks in the future.
WHO recommends that patients with coronavirus limit contact with pets. This interaction can lead to genetic modifications of the virus, and this will affect the disease in humans.