Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Science / Health/  Two cats got covid from owners, spurring call for vigilance
BackBack

Two cats got covid from owners, spurring call for vigilance

The first reported finding of human-to-cat coronavirus transmission in the UK has prompted a call from scientists to monitor the infection in pets

The true frequency of human-to-animal transmission is probably underestimated since few pets get tested (Photo: AP)Premium
The true frequency of human-to-animal transmission is probably underestimated since few pets get tested (Photo: AP)

The first reported finding of human-to-cat coronavirus transmission in the UK has prompted a call from scientists to monitor the infection in pets.

There’s no evidence that domestic cats are playing a role in spreading the pandemic virus, researchers at the University of Glasgow said Wednesday in a study released ahead of peer review and publication. The two infected felines described in the paper developed “mild or severe respiratory disease," with one four-month-old female Ragdoll kitten having to be put down, they said.

Farmed mink, a tiger in the Bronx zoo, pet dogs and other animals have caught Covid-19, raising concern that a new reservoir for the virus might emerge. Better understanding of how efficiently the pathogen passes from humans to cats will require pets in affected households to be monitored, according to the researchers.

The true frequency of human-to-animal transmission is probably underestimated since few pets get tested, they said.

So-called reverse zoonotic transmission, whereby a pathogen of animal origin is passed from a human back to an animal, “represents a relatively low risk" as long as the virus is in high circulation among people, the researchers said. But as epidemics eventually wane, prospects for transmission among animals become “increasingly important as a source for re-introductions to humans."

Whether infected cats could naturally transmit the virus to other animals, or back to humans, remains unknown.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
More Less
Published: 24 Sep 2020, 08:04 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App