[In-It] Companion animal corona infection, things parents need to know

On the 24th, after Prime Minister Chung Sye-gyun announced that "the first case of corona 19 confirmed by companion animals in Korea has been confirmed," anxiety is spreading among people who have companion animals.

The case of infection mentioned by Prime Minister Chung is known as the case of a kitten raised at the Jinju International Prayer Center, where a group infection occurred recently.

Of the three cats (one mother and two kittens) raised by a mother and daughter infected with Corona, one kitten was confirmed on the 21st.

In fact, prior to this, positive cases were first detected in dogs.

On the 19th, a dog (a 5-year-old male French bulldog) raised by a confirmed patient at an animal hospital in Gyeonggi-do showed a positive reaction in the animal corona rapid antigen diagnostic kit test.

Two days after the initial positive reaction, the infection was strongly suspected to show a positive reaction even in a retest, but only some of the veterinary clinics were aware of this, considering the fact that the kit was being verified at a front-line veterinary hospital before the official product approval and the PCR test was ahead. there was.

Then, when the Prime Minister directly mentioned the case of a companion animal infection, cases of corona positive in dogs were also known.

If the PCR test is positive, the number of cases of companion animal infection in Korea will increase to two.

When the case of corona infection for companion animals was first known in Korea, many people were surprised, saying, "Was animals also infected?"

However, there have already been hundreds of cases of animal infection abroad.

According to the World Animal Health Organization OIE, by the beginning of January this year, a total of 412 animals in 23 countries around the world were confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus.

On February 26, last year, in Lidao District, Hong Kong, a dog tested positive for coronavirus. In the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, South Africa, Germany, Russia, Greece, Spain, Slovenia, and Japan. Animal infection reports followed.

32 dogs and 46 cats were infected, as well as leopards, lions, tigers, pumas, and gorillas.

In some European countries, such as Denmark and the Netherlands, massive mink infections have occurred on mink farms.

(Since the mortality rate of mink was high at mink farms, and cases that could be suspected of spreading from mink to humans, it is necessary to observe the future trend, but the situation is different from that of companion animals.) In

foreign countries such as Hong Kong and the United States, Corona test for companion animals has already been commercialized.

In Hong Kong, if a confirmed person has a companion animal, the animal must be tested.

In the United States, corona testing services for companion animals have already been conducted since April of last year.

In the case of Korea, more cases of infection may emerge if the test for companion animals is expanded.

But don't worry too much.

Most cases of animal infections occurred due to contact with confirmed patients.

Humans transmitted the virus to animals, and vice versa (animal → human) has not yet been reported.

It means that there is no need to abandon the animal, fearing that the animal will transmit the corona to me.

It shouldn't be abandonment.

(In the early days of the outbreak of Corona 19, a large number of pets were actually thrown away in China in case that animals could spread the virus to humans.)

Some companion animals had respiratory symptoms, but most of them recovered without worsening of symptoms.

Clinical symptoms are better identified in cats than in dogs, and it has been confirmed in some experiments that the virus can be transmitted between cats, but since the experiment was conducted in an extreme environment, there is no need to worry about transmission between cats in daily life.

Considering the situation so far, it seems there is no need to have vague fears about corona infection in companion animals.

Still, we still don't know much about the corona, and virus mutations can also occur, so be careful and there is nothing bad about it?

If you are a pet guardian, remember the following:

1) Companion animals → No cases of COVID-19 transmission to humans have been reported worldwide.

Don't abandon your pet in vague fear.

2) Observe personal hygiene rules, such as washing your hands before and after touching pets.

3) Companion animals also need social distancing.

Try to minimize contact with everyone and other animals not living with you at home.

4) Let's play with a variety of play toys at home for dogs whose social activities are reduced because they cannot use dog kindergarten or dog playground.

5) (To the guardian) When suspected symptoms of Corona 19 do not come into contact with animals, ask other family members or friends to take care of the pet.

6) If you need to undergo self-isolation treatment due to Corona 19, but there is no right person to take care of the animal, let's use the local government's'temporary companion animal protection service'.

(Available in some local governments)

7) If your pet is sick after contact with a corona19 patient or suspect, be sure to make an appointment by phone and explain the situation before visiting the veterinary hospital.

That way, veterinary hospitals can prepare separate treatment rooms, change appointments for other veterinary patients, and disinfect them in advance.

8) The latest information on corona19 animal infections is constantly updated.

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