Time: Coronavirus Patient's Pet Dog Tests Positive for 'Low Level' of Virus

[Mike 03]

The pet dog of a coronavirus patient in Hong Kong has been found to have a “low level” of the virus, the Hong Kong government said early Friday.

The dog tested “weak positive” for the coronavirus, the city’s agricultural and fisheries department said in a statement, without giving further details. Officials will carry out further tests to confirm whether the dog has really been infected with the disease, or if it was a result of environmental contamination of its mouth and nose.

Much is still not known about the virus that is spreading around the world after emerging in central China late last year. It is thought to have transferred to humans from bats and has been shown to spread in a number of ways, but the Hong Kong agricultural department said it doesn’t have evidence that pet animals can be infected, or be a source of infection to people.

If confirmed, the dog would be the first case of a pet catching the coronavirus amid a global outbreak that’s now infected more than 82,000 people and claimed more than 2,800 lives.

The dog is being quarantined at an animal facility, the Hong Kong government said. The department strongly advised that pets of confirmed virus patients also be put under quarantine.

Short article, nothing more at link: https://time.com/5792150/coronavirus-dog/

Hopefully this dog just got his nose near some COVID-19 and is neither infected nor a vector. I'm a law-abiding citizen who follows instructions, but they better not come for my dog, I'm telling ya.

[Deb]

1. The CDC home healthcare guide says to stay away from pets

I was surprised they could be carriers too.

[samnsara]

2. oh great there go all the dogs in china!!!

[Mike 03]

5. I came across this article this morning; don't know the credibility

China killing dogs and cats again

According to the Daily Mail Online, to reduce the spread of coronavirus, officials in some Chinese cities have ordered citizens to get rid of their pets or risk having them taken away. Notices given to the Mail Online show orders from officials to dispose of dogs and cats immediately, to stop them from carrying the virus. Another report indicated some pets have been abandoned on the street amid rumors that they can spread the virus, and officials in Suichang, Zhejiang, province reportedly told residents that dogs caught out in public will be exterminated.

There are some dubious claims in this article. It is from a newspaper in Maryland/West Virginia.

https://www.times-news.com/community/coronavirus-swine-fever-great-tragedies/article_f6c9200b-1f2e-50a1-a2f2-4a0d636b4823.html

[dewsgirl]

10. I accidentally came across photos.😭

[patricia92243]

3. Seems like a blood test vs a swab in the mouth and nose would show a difference.

[mrs_p]

4. Dogs also have a respiratory

Coronavirus. I wonder how much cross reactivity there is with the test they used.

[abqtommy]

6. Dog/cat coronavirus has been known for some time and there are existing vaccines. Of

course COVID-19 is something new but talk to your vet and protect your pets and yourself.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213018951

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213018819

[dewsgirl]

7. When I heard some of these rumors a few weeks ago coming

out of China, I wondered how that would be handled here, where some people would die for their pets. It's beyond frightening this all is happening under this administration.

[Blues Heron]

8. Dang every card-carrying millennial around here has a dog

not good. They're all off the leash too - hopefully this will at least get them to respect the leash laws.

[timms139]

9. Coronavirus already in dogs shots.

Just gave a pup his 6n1 three weeks ago and one container was labeled coronavirus. Could be the regular strain or dogs may be able to get the new strain from human contact. Makes me wonder how dogs given the regular vaccine would react to the new strain.