Covid-19 Confirmed Cases of animals

Recently the number of daily confirmed cases has been maintained at around 400. While the daily number continues to dwindle, there is still concern about re-proliferation with mass infection. In fact, more than 100 people have been confirmed at the Jinju prayer center. Moreover, this time, not only humans but also an animal was infected.

In the Jinju prayer center, a mother and a daughter got contracted. So did one of three cats they raise. It is presumed that they carried the virus to the cat. This is the first confirmed case of animals in Korea. However, there have already been about 450 animal infection cases internationally. Mostly dogs, cats, tigers, and minks are confirmed. Like humans, animals have specific symptoms of the infection. Dogs’ symptoms of Covid-19 are difficulty with breathing, lethargy, cough, nasal secretions, and so on. Cats’ symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, and high fever. Of course, they may be asymptomatic too. Fortunately, there is no case that animals spread viruses to humans. But it’s not clear yet, and we need to research more about it.

Yet there are overseas suspected cases that animals spread to humans. That animal is mink. Compared with other animals, an overwhelming number of minks got confirmed. There have been 216 confirmed cases in Denmark, 67 cases in Netherland, 321 cases in total.

In Denmark, 214 people are suspected of being infected by minks. The authority of Denmark banned all animals and products in the factory from being taken out. So far minks are the only suspected cases of animal transmission.

Now we have to pay close attention not only to human quarantine but also animals’ because the Covid-19 is a zoonosis. The more we neglect the quarantine of animals, the more animals might suffer. CDC of the United States asked people to quarantine their pets if they are confirmed. Also, a professor of the division of infectious diseases at Korea University said it is necessary to make relevant guidelines with animals because there are no measures of quarantine and examination for the confirmed people’s animals.

▲ Photo: Animals are also exposed to Danger of Covid-19 (Source: YONHAP NEWS)