A pet cat in Britain has been found to have a coronavirus for the first time, but there is still no evidence that animals can infect people, said Christine Middlemiss, chief veterinary officer of the United Kingdom.
“Tests have confirmed that the virus responsible for COVID-19 was detected in a domestic cat in England. This is a very rare case – the pet shows mild symptoms and recovers within a few days. There is no evidence to suggest that Pets directly transmit the virus to humans,” the veterinarian said in a statement released on Monday.
The cat was diagnosed with coronavirus on July 22, the first confirmed such diagnosis in a domestic animal in the country. Doctors say they have found evidence that the animal was infected from its owners. Currently, both the cat and the owners have recovered.
Middlemiss notes that her service will continue to monitor the situation, and if it worsens, will issue additional recommendations for pet owners. Currently, people are advised to wash their hands thoroughly before and after contact with animals.
