Cat pets vulnerable to contract Covid-19 infection: Study
New Delhi : There have been a lot of debates on whether the coronavirus can transmit from humans to animals; the earlier studies have shown that it is not shown that animals getting the disease from humans. But contrary to that a new study has found that might raise concern for all the people who own a pet.
According to a new study published on the website of the journal Science, it has been seen that while cats may catch coronavirus from humans, the dogs remain less vulnerable.
The study also found that ferrets can also become infected with SARS-CoV-2, the scientific term for the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.
It has been mentioned that there are no significant evidences which could claim that the coronavirus can spread among dogs, chickens, pigs, and ducks.
The study did close research on animals which are pets and remain near to humans.
The study was aimed at identifying which animals are vulnerable to the virus so they can be used to test experimental vaccines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 100,000 people worldwide since it emerged in China in December.
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SARS-CoV-2 is believed to have spread from bats to humans. Except for a few reported infections in cats and dogs, there has not been strong evidence that pets can be carriers.
The study, based on research conducted in China in January and February, found cats and ferrets highly susceptible to the virus when researchers attempted to infect the animals by introducing viral particles via the nose.
World Health Organization (WHO) is also working closely on the issue as they are working with its partners to look more closely at the role of pets in the health crisis.
Considering the number of cases till date, WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove told a news conference: “We don’t believe that they are playing a role in transmission but we think that they may be able to be infected from an infected person."
