Dog is first in UK to test positive for Covid

Dog is first in UK to test positive for Covid

A dog has tested positive for Covid – the first documented case of its kind in the UK – officials have confirmed.

It is believed the pet, who is now recovering at home, caught it from its owner.

The UK Health Security Agency  said the case was extremely rare and that there is no strong evidence to suggest pets are passing the virus to humans.

The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: “The infected dog was undergoing treatment for another unrelated condition and is now recovering.

“It is very rare for dogs to be infected and they will usually only show mild clinical signs, and recover within a few days.

‘Monitor the situation’

“There is no clear evidence to suggest that pets directly transmit the virus to humans. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and will update our guidance to pet owners should the situation change.”

Owners and people who work with animals are advised to wash their hands regularly for good hygiene. Animal fur can act as a carrier for the Covid-19 virus for short periods of time, in the same way as other surfaces, such as door handles.

Some coronaviruses that infect animals can be spread to people and then spread between people, but this is also very rare.

It has been suggested that the Covid-19 virus probably originated in bats.

There have been reports of other animals infected with Sars-CoV-2.

Denmark killed millions of mink in November 2020 amid concerns about a mutated form of coronavirus detected in this species.

A few cases of Covid in pet cats, dogs and ferrets have been recorded around the world too.