Research looks at SARS-CoV-2 transmission from people to pets
A large team of researchers from the US demonstrated that pets with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) likely acquired the putative virus from humans. This suggests that human-animal infection may actually occur much more frequently than previously thought – implying that infected individuals should limit their contact with animals. The paper is currently available on the
bioRxiv preprint server.
Both natural and experimental infections with SARS-CoV-2 – a causative agent of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic – have been demonstrated in various species of companion animals, which includes dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits, and ferrets.