Pets owned by private individuals which have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 must be isolated and quarantined for 14 days for monitoring purposes.
Senior lecturer (veterinary immunology) and researcher in pet disease at the Faculty of Veterinary Science in Universiti Putra Malaysia, Dr Farina Mustaffa Kamal, said if these pets displayed any health issues during this period, their owners should consult the District Veterinary Services Department for further action.
She said although there was no evidence of pets spreading COVID-19 infections, they could themselves be infected by the disease as reported by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
"Two cases of COVID-19 infections involving pets (a cat and a dog) contracted from their owners have been reported in Belgium and Hong Kong.
"These pets were suspected to have contracted the disease through close contact with COVID-19 positive persons through kisses, hugs or general management," she told Bernama when contacted.
However, Dr Farina said, so far the number of infected pets was very small and there was no clear information of the symptoms of animals infected with COVID-19, with the majority not displaying any signs.
"Only one cat in Belgium displayed symptoms of breathing difficulties, diarrhea and vomiting. However, it must be remembered that other virus or bacteria can also cause these same symptoms in animals," she said.
Dr Farina stressed that it was better for pet owners to impose early quarantine and isolation measures on their animals as soon as they realise that they had symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
She added that there was no clear evidence that certain species of animals were naturally more susceptible to infections, but said with the current COVID-19 pandemic, the pet owners are encouraged to isolate their animals in the house.
"So far, experimental studies show that the virus can infect cats, ferrets, and monkeys," she said, adding that ferrets and monkeys were the laboratory animals used in studies on coronavirus.
On stray animals, Dr Farina said it was difficult to check on stray cats as they were not used to human interaction.
"Logically-speaking, there is less close contact between humans and stray cats through kisses and hugs, but the recommendations by the OIE and the World Health Organisation must be observed when managing pets and stray animals," she said.
Dr Farina said generally-speaking, coronavirus was a large family of virus which infected different species of animals. - BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu Apr 09 2020
Although there was no evidence of pets spreading COVID-19 infections, they could themselves be infected by the disease as reported by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Picture/ Astro AWANI.
Penyanyi Sean Diddy ditangakp di New York
Penerbit muzik terkenal, Puff Daddy atau lebih dikenali sebagai Sean Diddy Combs yang berdepan dengan beberapa tuduhan serangan seksual telah diberkas di Manhatann, New York oleh ejen persekutuan pada Isnin waktu tempatan.
10 maut, puluhan cedera bas Iran terbalik
Menurut angka awal, kemalangan itu mengakibatkan 10 maut dan 41 cedera.
Malaysia perlu melabur dalam infrastruktur
Pengarah Eksekutif Ukrainian Prism, Hennadiy Maksak berpandangan, Malaysia juga tidak boleh bergantung kepada satu laluan, selain menjalin hubungan yang baik dengan negara-negara jiran.
Lebih 1,000 rakyat termasuk pejuang Hezbollah cedera parah
Lebih seribu rakyat Lubnan termasuk anggota pejuang Hezbollah dan petugas perubatan cedera parah dalam satu letupan pada Selasa.
Tetingkap Tunggal Nasional memudahkan operasi perdagangan antara Malaysia dan China
Menteri Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri (MITI), Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz berpendapat inisiatif Tetingkap Tunggal Nasional (National single window) yang bakal diharmonikan Bersama system kastam China akan memudahkan operasi perniagaan dan perdagangan (ease of doing business) antara Malaysia dan China.
Medan selera perlu ditambah baik, kemudahan asas tidak lengkap
Air bergenang di lantai dan tempias sehingga meja makan mengakibatkan pengunjung basah. Itu situasi apabila keadaan hujan lebat di Medan Selera Taman Makmur di dalam Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota yang menempatkan deretan 12 kedai makan.
Calon manfaat platform media sosial dekati pengundi luar
Kempen Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota turut memberi tumpuan kepada penggunaan media sosial bagi menambat hati pengundi luar selain kempen secara bersemuka.
Seorang wanita maut jatuh lubang saluran air
Seorang wanita maut selepas terjatuh ke dalam lubang saluran air sedalam dua meter ketika menyertai aktiviti mendaki di Bukit Cherok Tok Kun pada Selasa.
Kerja pembersihan sisa kimia dijalankan pada Selasa
Kerja-kerja pembersihan sisa bahan kimia yang dibuang secara haram di Kawasan Perindustrian Tiong Nam dan Kawasan Perindustrian Tropika, Johor bermula pada Selasa.
Suara Rakyat: Ibu bapa gesa UPSR, PT3 dikembalikan semula
Ibu bapa menggesa supaya Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) dan Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3) dikembalikan secepat mungkin bagi membolehkan penilaian kecenderungan kanak-kanak dibuat dari peringkat awal.
Amazon arahkan pekerja kembali bekerja di pejabat lima hari seminggu
Pekerja Amazon diarah kembali bekerja sepenuh masa di pejabat, dengan menekankan kepentingan bekerja secara bersemuka.
Makanan tradisional Bajau Seri Semporna ubati kerinduan perantau
Meskipun nasib tidak menyebelahi Azreena apabila terpaksa menutup restoran ketika musim pandemik, setahun kemudian mereka mampu bangkit kembali.
Pesta Air Kuala Perlis medium rapatkan hubungan masyarakat
Pesta Air Kuala Perlis antara acara tradisi di Perlis sejak tahun 50-an, kini kembali selepas kali terakhir dianjurkan pada 2019.
MyPELINDUNG 2024: Jamin kehidupan selamat bersama COVID-19
Kempen MyPELINDUNG 2024 terus membantu rakyat Malaysia untuk menyesuaikan diri dengan norma baharu.
Konsulat Malaysia di Pontianak anjur majlis resepsi Hari Kebangsaan ke-67
Konsulat Malaysia di Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat mengadakan majlis resepsi Hari Kebangsaan ke-67 pada malam Sabtu yang dihadiri 300 tetamu termasuk Pemangku Gabenor Kalimantan Barat, Harisson dan iste
Semua PLC perlu adakan mesyuarat agung secara hibrid atau fizikal mulai 1 Mac 2025
Semua syarikat awam tersenarai (PLC) di Bursa Malaysia perlu mengadakan mesyuarat agung secara hibrid atau fizikal mulai 1 Mac, 2025, menurut Suruhanjaya Sekuriti Malaysia (SC) dan Bursa Malaysia Bhd.
Ini lapangan terbang miliki sambungan penerbangan terbaik di dunia
Lapangan Terbang iGA Istanbul, yang dibuka pada 2018, muncul lapangan terbang yang mempunyai sambungan terbaik di dunia.
COVID-19: Lonjakan kes memungkinkan wad kecemasan ditutup di Korea Selatan
Persatuan Perubatan Korea Selatan memberi amaran bahawa lonjakan kes COVID-19 dan mogok berterusan oleh doktor pelatih memungkinkan banyak wad kecemasan di Korea Selatan ditutup bulan hadapan.
Wabak mpox: Lindungi golongan rentan, individu imuniti rendah - Pakar kesihatan
Kumpulan yang memiliki imuniti rendah antaranya adalah pesakit kanser, wanita hamil, warga tua serta kanak-kanak.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.