COVID-19 and Your Pet: What You Need to Know
2020-08-05
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1The new coronavirus continues to infect people around the world,
2so many of us are looking for information about the virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19.
3The Google Trends website has been following the top virus-related questions in Google's search engine.
4In June and July, one of the most-asked questions was - can animals get COVID-19?
5This coronavirus, also called SARS-CoV-2, is new to humans.
6Where it came from has yet to be confirmed, and research is continuing.
7Researchers already know a lot about other viruses in the coronavirus family.
8Most of them, they say, began in animals.
9Experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explain that these viruses include MERS-CoV, the coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS.
10It also includes SARS-CoV, the coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.
11CDC experts also give this explanation:
12"Sometimes coronaviruses that infect animals can evolve and make people sick and become a new human coronavirus."
13Three recent examples of this are MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.
14The CDC is the top public health agency in the United States.
15The CDC confirms that, worldwide, a small number of cats, dogs and other pets have been infected with SARS-CoV-2.
16Most of these infections came after the animals were in close contact with human carriers of the virus.
17The World Health Organization (WHO) also reports that some dogs and cats in contact with infected humans have tested positive for COVID-19.
18Like humans, infected pets might get sick or they might not have any signs of the disease.
19The CDC says most pets sick with COVID had a minor form of the disease and fully recovered.
20On July 30, the Associated Press reported that the first dog in the United States sickened by COVID-19 has died.
21Named Buddy, the 7-year-old German shepherd lived in New York.
22He became sick in April while his owner was recovering from the coronavirus.
23Buddy had the same symptoms as human patients. These symptoms included difficulty breathing.
24Buddy was put to sleep, or euthanized.
25The decision to end his life came after he developed very serious health problems.
26It is not known if the coronavirus played a part in those very serious health problems.
27Animal doctors told the family that blood tests showed Buddy likely had lymphoma, a blood cancer.
28The CDC's website reports that "at this time, there is no evidence that animals" play a large part in "spreading the virus that causes COVID-19."
29The WHO says pet-to-people transmission of the coronavirus is unlikely.
30COVID-19 is spread through human-to-human transmission, mainly "through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks."
31Until more is known about how the coronavirus affects animals, experts say to treat pets as you would family members.
32The CDC suggests the following:
33Keep cats inside your home when possible.
34Walk dogs on a leash at least 2 meters away from others.
35Avoid taking your pet to crowded public places.
36Do not put face coverings on pets.
37Limit your pet's contact with non-family members.
38There is no evidence that the virus can spread to people from the skin and the fur of pets. So, do not clean your pet with chemical cleaners not approved for animal use.
39If you are sick with COVID-19, you should stay away from your pets and other animals, just as you would with people.
40When possible, have another person in your home care for your pet while you are sick.
41However, if you are sick and must care for your pet or be around animals, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and after you interact with them.
42If you are sick with COVID-19 and your pet becomes sick, do not take your pet to the doctor.
43Call the doctor and let them know you have been sick.
44And that's the Health & Lifestyle report for this week.
45I'm Anna Matteo.
1The new coronavirus continues to infect people around the world, so many of us are looking for information about the virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19. 2The Google Trends website has been following the top virus-related questions in Google's search engine. In June and July, one of the most-asked questions was - can animals get COVID-19? 3This coronavirus, also called SARS-CoV-2, is new to humans. Where it came from has yet to be confirmed, and research is continuing. Researchers already know a lot about other viruses in the coronavirus family. Most of them, they say, began in animals. 4Experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explain that these viruses include MERS-CoV, the coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS. It also includes SARS-CoV, the coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. 5CDC experts also give this explanation: "Sometimes coronaviruses that infect animals can evolve and make people sick and become a new human coronavirus." Three recent examples of this are MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. 6The CDC is the top public health agency in the United States. 7Can animals get COVID-19? 8The CDC confirms that, worldwide, a small number of cats, dogs and other pets have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Most of these infections came after the animals were in close contact with human carriers of the virus. 9The World Health Organization (WHO) also reports that some dogs and cats in contact with infected humans have tested positive for COVID-19. 10Like humans, infected pets might get sick or they might not have any signs of the disease. The CDC says most pets sick with COVID had a minor form of the disease and fully recovered. 11On July 30, the Associated Press reported that the first dog in the United States sickened by COVID-19 has died. 12Named Buddy, the 7-year-old German shepherd lived in New York. He became sick in April while his owner was recovering from the coronavirus. Buddy had the same symptoms as human patients. These symptoms included difficulty breathing. 13Buddy was put to sleep, or euthanized. The decision to end his life came after he developed very serious health problems. 14It is not known if the coronavirus played a part in those very serious health problems. Animal doctors told the family that blood tests showed Buddy likely had lymphoma, a blood cancer. 15Can I get COVID-19 from my pet? 16The CDC's website reports that "at this time, there is no evidence that animals" play a large part in "spreading the virus that causes COVID-19." The WHO says pet-to-people transmission of the coronavirus is unlikely. 17COVID-19 is spread through human-to-human transmission, mainly "through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks." 18Keeping you and your pets safe 19Until more is known about how the coronavirus affects animals, experts say to treat pets as you would family members. The CDC suggests the following: 20Keep cats inside your home when possible. 21Walk dogs on a leash at least 2 meters away from others. 22Avoid taking your pet to crowded public places. 23Do not put face coverings on pets. 24Limit your pets contact with non-family members. 25There is no evidence that the virus can spread to people from the skin and the fur of pets. So, do not clean your pet with chemical cleaners not approved for animal use. 26Protect pets if you are sick 27If you are sick with COVID-19, you should stay away from your pets and other animals, just as you would with people. 28When possible, have another person in your home care for your pet while you are sick. However, if you are sick and must care for your pet or be around animals, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and after you interact with them. 29If you are sick with COVID-19 and your pet becomes sick, do not take your pet to the doctor. Call the doctor and let them know you have been sick. 30And that's the Health & Lifestyle report for this week. 31I'm Anna Matteo. 32Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English with information from the Associated Press and the CDC. George Grow was the editor. 33________________________________________________________________ 34Words in This Story 35evolve - v. to change or develop slowly often into a better, more complex, or more advanced state 36positive - adj. good or useful 37symptom - n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present 38leash - n. a long, thin piece of rope, chain, etc., that is used for holding a dog or other animal 39fur - n. the hairy coat of an animal 40transmission - n. the act or process by which something is spread or passed from one person or thing to another 41droplet - n. a tiny drop (as of a liquid) 42cough - v. (also n.) to force air through your throat with a short, loud noise often because you are sick 43sneeze - v. (also n.) to suddenly force air out through your nose and mouth with a usually loud noise because your body is reacting to dust, a sickness, etc. 44euthanize - v. to killing or permit the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy