ARE PETS SAFE FROM COVID-19 INFECTION?

In light of news that a tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York tested positive for COVID-19, experts are reassuring the public that there’s no evidence so far that pets can spread the novel coronavirus to humans.

“We don’t want anyone to fear their pets,” San Diego Humane Society spokeswoman Nina Thompson said in an interview.

San Diego Humane Society President and CEO Gary Weitzman issued a statement Monday to address concerns about COVID-19 and pets, and on Wednesday joined San Diego veterinarian Megan Gibbings, San Diego City Councilman Chris Ward and Assemblyman Todd Gloria on a telephone town hall to answer questions about pet safety in response to the pandemic.

Weitzman, Gibbings and other experts say there are no reports of COVID-19 cases involving pets in the U.S.

On the other hand, as the case of the tiger shows, humanto-animal transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 is possible, though the risk appears to be low. In the tiger’s case, the zoo said an employee infected the animal.

Experts emphasize that there is still much that is unknown about COVID-19 infections among animals.

Out of an abundance of caution, experts recommend that humans with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 take the same precautions with their pets as they would with other humans. That includes staying away from their animal companions as much as possible.

Experts suggest that family or friends care for the animal if possible.

Currently, there are no commercial tests for COVID-19 for animals, Weitzman said.

david.hernandez@ sduniontribune.com