Suspected First Human-To-Animal Coronavirus Transmission Now Being Investigated

As per a recent news release, the world may have its first case of human-to-animal transmission of the coronavirus epidemic since the quarantined dog of a coronavirus patient in Hong Kong tested positive for the virus. However, experts that are on the case have also gone on record to say that the matter is still under investigation and that nothing is set in stone at the moment.

First Human-To-Animal Transmission

As confirmed by the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the dog in question has recently been subjected to tests, and is confirmed to have the virus, although the results only show “weak positive,” meaning that it only has a low level of infection.

“The department will continue to closely monitor the dog ... and repeat the test later. It will only be returned to its owner when the test result is negative,” the AFCD confirmed in a recent statement following the update.

Despite this, however, a recent release made by the World Health Organization through their website stated there are still no cases of companion animals getting infected by the current virus epidemic that started in Wuhan, China. On the same tangent, animal experts based in Hong Kong also said that pet owners in the country would do just fine and should not be overly concerned nor abandon their pets.

Furthermore, the AFCD also said that it would also be conducting further tests to confirm if the findings made for the dog is actually a case of coronavirus moving forward. It also reiterated that besides this new case, which is still under investigation as of writing, there is still no clear-cut evidence that pets can be a source of infection and that they can get infected from a human who has the virus.

Per the latest research, Hong Kong has 103 confirmed cases of coronavirus, two of which have already died. At the moment, there is also still no vaccine for the virus, although experts and groups from all over the world are hard at work to develop one and make it available as soon as it is possible.

© Iqbal Osman, CC BY 2.0