WHO: Pet dogs are not closely linked to transmission of new crown virus
WHO experts point out that weakly positive pet tests have also appeared in previous emerging diseases, so we need to answer a core question, whether the animal is closely related to the spread of the disease, and the answer is no.
WHO RwE Executive Director Michael Ryan pointed out at a regular press conference on March 6 that it is not unusual to find animals infected with the virus in an emerging disease outbreak Children have previously had similar cases in SARS and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
"This has always been a problem in emerging diseases, and we need to answer a core question, whether the animal is closely related to the spread of the disease, and the answer is no." Ryan pointed out that in this case, it is not so much the other Role, it is better to say that this dog is a victim. Ryan also said that further research is needed on the role of pets in transmitting the virus
Earlier, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong said on the 4th that a pet dog had weak positive reactions in multiple tests of the new crown virus, indicating that the dog was infected with the virus at a low level.
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, technical director of the WHO emergency affairs project, also pointed out that WHO does not believe that infected pets will be a driving factor for the spread of the epidemic.
Expert: Even if the pet test is positive, there is no evidence that it can infect people
Van Kockhoff told the situation that WHO was informed that a sample of a pet dog in Hong Kong was weakly positive for the new coronavirus test. It is understood that this dog is very old and is currently in good health and does not show any symptoms related to new coronary pneumonia. Van Kochhof said that as of now, only this dog has been found to have a positive test result and is in good health. "From a transmission point of view, we don't think this will be the main way of transmission of the new crown virus, and we have no evidence to support the judgment that it is transmitted from human to dog, or that dog can be transmitted to humans," she said.
Moreover, Ryan claims that the emergence of animal-borne viruses in emerging diseases is not unprecedented.
Professor Vanessa Barrs, an animal health expert at the City University of Hong Kong, confirmed that pet dogs were weakly positive for virus testing in SARS in 2003.
"SARS past experience has shown that cats and dogs do not get sick or transmit the virus to humans. At that time, a small number of pets were positive but not sick. Importantly, there is no evidence that the virus will pass from pet dogs or cats. Spreading to humans, "says Barrs," all the evidence now shows that new coronary pneumonia is the result of human-to-human transmission. "
Sun Honglei, an associate researcher in the Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, told First Financial News that the current test result is accurately a weakly positive nucleic acid, that is, the nucleic acid was detected instead of the virus isolated.
Sun Honglei believes: "If multiple tests are weakly positive, it indicates that the dog has a potential risk of infection, but this is still a nucleic acid result. The diagnosis should still follow the Koch's rule: get the virus, return to the infection, and get the virus again.
In other words, Sun Honglei said that to evaluate the susceptibility of domestic animals to new coronaviruses, it is still necessary to carry out artificial infection experiments on domestic animals by new coronaviruses. The conclusions drawn from such systematic scientific research are more convincing.
Sun Honglei explained to a reporter from Yicai: "There are many possibilities for false positives of nucleic acid positive, mechanical contact, adsorption on the respiratory system and no infection." He believes that the final conclusion should be based on the results of the artificial infection model. "The conclusion of infected dogs cannot be easily reached, otherwise a casual sentence will lead to indiscriminate killing," Sun Honglei said.
No need to take any special measures
Van Kochhof revealed that the WHO is working with colleagues in Hong Kong, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to find pets in close contact with patients with new coronary pneumonia at home for research.
"The situation is being actively tracked by FAO and the World Organisation for Animal Health," Ryan said. "We have a conference call with them now. No special measures are necessary, and more research is underway."
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said in an exclusive reply to First Financial reporter: "This Hong Kong pet dog has detected weak positive results of New Coronavirus in two tests. These findings suggest that this dog is likely to be infected with New Coronavirus .But so far, no relevant clinical symptoms have been shown. However, there is some uncertainty at all times, and the OIE New Crown Pneumonia Advisory Group stresses the importance of continuing to monitor and test this dog. "
Sun Honglei also told the First Financial Reporter: "The prevention, control and purification of the new coronavirus is a systematic project, not only to prevent and control the spread of the virus among humans. If the natural host of the virus or the transmission chain of the storage host cannot be cut off, the disease will still There is a possibility of an outbreak. At present, we do not have the host spectrum of the new coronavirus. This is a shortcoming and a task that the scientific community needs to complete in a timely manner. "
OIE also said that there is currently no evidence that pets can transmit new coronary pneumonia. "Right now, there is no reason to do anything that would harm the happiness and safety of companion animals," OIE emphasized.
Ryan said that any potential impact of outliers (that is, unusual observations) in the spread of the virus is very important in the response to the epidemic, but we must be careful to ensure that this thinking cannot become the core principle.
"Based on the current evidence, I don't think it is necessary to change existing policy approaches. But we will continue to work with the World Health Organization to see if we need to change our public health recommendations." Ryan said.