(Asian News Hub) – Several weeks after South Korea reported its first COVID-19 case involving a pet cat, Seoul will start testing cats and dogs for coronavirus infection if they show symptoms of the illness, an official from the country’s capital said on Tuesday.
While the disease mostly spreads from person to person, it can also spread from people to animals, or from animals to human – although that is much less significant – Aljazeera quoting health experts.
A number of pet cats and dogs have been reported to be infected with the virus in several countries. Other animals including mink, gorillas, and tigers were also reported to have tested positive.
The Seoul metropolitan government rolled out the test on Monday, the Yonhap news agency reported.Park Yoo-mi, a disease control official in Seoul, was quoted as saying that the tests will be conducted near the animal’s home by a team of health workers, including a veterinarian.
Only cats and dogs exhibiting symptoms, such as fever, coughing, breathing difficulties and increased secretion from the eyes or nose, will be tested, Park stressed, adding that most pets have not shown symptoms.
