KUCHING: Pet owners have been advised to practice good hygiene when coming in close contact with their pets.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said these following concerns from the public over whether animals could get infected by the Covid-19 virus.
“Wash your hands before and after handling them,” he said in his Facebook post.
He also said the Ministry of Health (MoH) would be working closely with the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) for further advice on this matter.
“Pets are considered as part of the family. If we are unable to keep a distance from them, it is important to keep good hygiene at all times,” he pointed out.
On Monday, it was reported that a four-year-old Malayan tiger, Nadia, had tested positive for Covid-19 at Bronx Zoo, New York City, in the United States.
Nadia and six other big cats had showed symptoms of dry cough.
It is believed that it had been infected by a zookeeper who was asymptomatic.
Reuters reported that Nadia and the other six big cats were now under medication and expected to fully recover.
A check by New Sarawak Tribune on the World Health Organisation (WHO) website in the Q&A section said while there had been one instance of a dog being infected in Hong Kong, to date, there was no evidence that dogs, cats or any pet could transmit the virus.
“Covid-19 is mainly spread through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks.
“To protect yourself, clean your hands frequently and thoroughly,” WHO said.
WHO also mentioned they would continue to monitor the latest research on this matter.
