Coronavirus: Wash your hands after stroking your pet, say experts

Coronavirus: Wash your hands after stroking your pet, say experts

News24
25 Mar 2020, 23:42 GMT+10

Coronavirus: Wash your hands after stroking your pet, say experts

A French medical body urged pet owners on Wednesday to take precautions like washing hands after stroking dogs or cats, saying the risk of catching Covid-19 from animals "cannot be ruled out".

Even though there is no evidence yet that domestic animals can transmit the virus to humans or get sick from it, there could be a potential risk, said the French Academy of Medicine, which advises the government on epidemics and has set up a dedicated Covid-19 monitoring group.

The SARS outbreak of 2002-2003, caused by a coronavirus genetically close to Covid-19, was able to infect several animal species including racoons, cats and hamsters, the academy said.

And two dogs whose Hong Kong owner was infected with COVID-19 have also tested positive, it said.

Testing

One of the dogs had a very low virus count, the academy said, and later tested negative, while the second is still being monitored.

Neither have displayed any signs of illness, but "these scientific observations suggest that COVID-19 can be transmitted to dogs by a contaminated owner," it said.

But it noted that there is nothing to suggest so far that dogs can infect humans or other animals.

It also recommended separating an infected owner from their animal companion "during the period that the sick person may excrete the virus", for example when coughing.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to China National News.

More Information

null in null

Business

Section

Meta joins tech shift to nuclear power for AI and data centers

Meta taps nuclear power to fuel its growing AI infrastructure

MENLO PARK, California: As artificial intelligence demands explode, Big Tech is turning to an old source for new power: nuclear energy....

Strong economic data drives U.S. stocks higher

Dow Jones jumps 443 points on strong jobs report

NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks rose appreciably Friday following the release of a strong jobs report which sent the U.S. dollar higher,...

US Job openings rise, but layoffs and tariff fears cloud outlook

Layoffs jump, resignations drop as US job market loses momentum

WASHINGTON, D.C. America's job market is starting to lose momentum. In April, job openings rose — but so did layoffs, marking their...

Ireland sees 11% drop in social media sector jobs

Ireland's government urged to boost digital and tech support

DUBLIN, Ireland: Digital Business Ireland (DBI) has asked the Government to do more to help Ireland's digital and tech sector. This...

Akio Toyoda’s real estate firm to buy Toyota industries

Toyota to take key supplier private in $26 billion deal

TOKYO, Japan: Toyota has announced that it will take one of its key group suppliers, Toyota Industries, private in a deal worth UD$26...

U.S. stock markets slip after Tesla dives more than 14 percent

Wall Street slides after Trump says Elon Musk has gone crazy

NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks fell Thursday after the feud between U.S. President Donald Trump and his biggest backer Elon Musk...

Asia Pacific

Section

Lee Jae-myung becomes president after South Korea’s political crisis

What can South Korea and world expect in Lee's presidency?

SEOUL, South Korea: South Korea's new president, liberal Lee Jae-myung, took office on June 4 after a dramatic and chaotic few months....

Policy debates in South Korean election drowned by personal attacks

South Korea's election turns nasty amid scandals

SEOUL, South Korea: South Korea's upcoming presidential election has turned into a messy battle full of personal insults and scandals...

Akio Toyoda’s real estate firm to buy Toyota industries

Toyota to take key supplier private in $26 billion deal

TOKYO, Japan: Toyota has announced that it will take one of its key group suppliers, Toyota Industries, private in a deal worth UD$26...

Wage boost in Australia as inflation falls and economy stabilizes

2.6 million low-income Australian workers to benefit from pay hike

SYDNEY, Australia: Australia's independent wage-setting body, the Fair Work Commission (FWC), has announced a 3.5 percent increase...

Hegseth reassures Indo-Pacific Allies: 'You won’t face China alone'

US vows support for Indo-Pacific against China's rising pressure

SINGAPORE: On May 31, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told America's Indo-Pacific allies that they would not be left alone to deal...

TikTok asks Ireland High Court to halt data ban to China

TikTok challenges Ireland's ruling on data transfers to China

DUBLIN, Ireland: TikTok is asking the High Court to stop a decision that could block the transfer of user data to China within six...

Movie Review

Tommaso