A pet cat has tested positive for the coronavirus, in the first confirmed case in the UK of it infecting an animal.
The government said the cat is thought to have been infected by its owners, who had tested positive for COVID-19, though the animal and people have all fully recovered.
There was no transmission to other animals or people in the household, and no evidence to suggest the animal gave the disease to the owners, or that animals can pass COVID-19 on to people, the government added in a statement.
Public Health England has advised people to continue to wash their hands regularly, including before and after contact with animals.
The president of the British Veterinary Association has recommended not letting the cat out if an owner is infected with COVID but said this may not be possible.Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: “Tests conducted by the Animal and Plant Health Agency have confirmed that the virus responsible for COVID-19 has been detected in a pet cat in England.
“This is a very rare event with infected animals detected to date only showing mild clinical signs and recovering within in a few days.
“There is no evidence to suggest that pets directly transmit the virus to humans. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and will update our guidance to pet owners should the situation change.”
The cat was diagnosed by a private vet with feline herpes, a common respiratory infection, but the sample was later tested for the coronavirus strain that causes COVID-19 as part of a research programme.
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