Despite new studies, there is still "no evidence" that the rare pets infected with the new coronavirus can contaminate humans, said Monday the French health agency Anses, calling however to respect some "rules of basic hygiene ”. Since the appearance of SARS-CoV-2, a few cases of domestic animals tested positive, including two dogs and a cat in Hong Kong, and a cat in Belgium, raising concerns.
But the cases of infections of domestic animals "remain sporadic and isolated in view of the strong circulation of the virus in Man", insists ANSES, which reviewed the new elements which have arisen since its last opinion in early March . The first experimental animal infections - whose results published in recent weeks have not been validated by other scientists at this stage - show that pigs, chickens and ducks are not receptive to the virus and that dogs are " not very receptive ”, continues the health agency.
Respect some rules
On the other hand, cats, especially young ones, are likely to be contaminated, as well as ferrets and hamsters which also develop clinical signs. But "no case of contamination of humans by a pet has been reported to date" and "there is currently no scientific evidence as to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from an infected domestic animal to Man ”, concludes ANSES in this opinion similar to the previous one.
Despite everything, to avoid any risk, the agency calls to respect a few rules: wash your hands with soap after petting an animal or after a litter maintenance, avoid close contact on the face. And to preserve your animal, do not stay in contact with him when you are sick. Excluding in view of available scientific information the contamination of a farm animal, ANSES again excludes the possibility of transmission of the virus by eating meat.
Digestive contamination still ruled out
For experts, the only possible way of contamination of food is its handling by a sick person. In the current state of knowledge, contamination through the digestive tract is still ruled out, according to ANSES. On the other hand, an infection of the respiratory tract during chewing "cannot be totally excluded". So the agency also advocates good hygiene practices there and notes that cooking (4 minutes at 63 ° C) "could be considered effective in inactivating coronaviruses in food".
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