Two cats in New York test positive for novel coronavirus

NEW YORK: Two cats in New York have become the first pets in the United States to test positive for the new coronavirus, but there is no evidence pets can spread the virus to humans, according to US health authorities.

The cats, from separate areas of New York state, had mild respiratory illness and are expected to make a full recovery.

It is believed that they contracted the virus from people in their households or neighbourhoods, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

‘‘Animals, pets, can get infected . . . There’s no evidence that the virus is transmitted from the pet to a human,’’ Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said at the daily coronavirus briefing in Washington.

There are few known Covid19 infections of pets globally. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, one cat in Hong Kong tested positive without displaying symptoms, while a cat in Belgium recovered nine days after falling ill.

Five tigers and three lions at the Bronx Zoo in New York have also tested positive for Covid19, including one tiger who never developed a cough, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, the nonprofit which runs the zoo.

‘‘Our cats were infected by a staff person who was asymptomatically infected with the virus or before that person developed symptoms,’’ the WCS said.

‘‘All eight cats continue to do well. They are behaving normally, eating well, and their coughing is greatly reduced.’’ — Reuters