Coronavirus: Cats in New York are the first US pets to get infected

Two cats have been tested positive for covid-19 disease

Thursday, 23rd April 2020

Two cats become first US pets to test positive for Covid-19 in New York, stated officials, on Wednesday. The Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a joint statement, stated that the two cats are from two different areas in New York. They stated, “Both had mild respiratory illness and are expected to make a full recovery”.

It is possible that the cat might have contracted the infection from its infected owner. However, the other cat contracting the disease is shocking as no one in its household is tested positive for corona virus infection.

A statement declared, “The virus may have been transmitted to this cat by mildly ill or asymptomatic household members or through contact with an infected person outside its home”. But the press added that another cat living in the same house has no symptoms of the illness. However, “there is no evidence that pets play a role in spreading the virus in the United States”, said the departments.

Not letting the cats interact with humans or animals will be the best thing to do in a crisis like this, advised CDC. It added, people who are tested positive for coronavirus infection should stay away from pets.

Over 15,000 people have died in New York State due to Covid-19 infection.

Source: NDTV