On April 1, there was a piece of news about the progress of new coronavirus research, which made people a little worried: a latest study proved that the new coronavirus can infect cats and can be transmitted between cats. Some cat owners or cat lovers are even hoping this is an April Fools' Day message.

In epidemic news around the world, we can currently see examples of pets being infected, including: a cat in Belgium and two dogs in Hong Kong were tested positive for the new coronavirus after their owners were diagnosed. Therefore, "Understanding whether cats and dogs in close contact with humans are susceptible to the new coronavirus is important for epidemic control." The paper stated.

The article was published on bioRxiv, a preprint platform for biological papers, and has not yet been peer-reviewed. However, "Nature" magazine interviewed experts including well-known virologist Professor Linda Saif for their opinions on this issue of concern. Professor Saif works at The Ohio State University in the United States and is also the head of the World Health Organization’s Animal Coronavirus Reference Laboratory. Let’s take a look at what the experts have to say.

First of all, this study is not a direct test of people’s domestic cats, but a small-scale scientific test conducted by researchers in the laboratory to confirm whether the new coronavirus may infect cats. A very important point is that in the experiment, scientists injected high concentrations of the new coronavirus into the noses of domestic cats. Professor Saif explained that this is different from the real interaction between people and pets in real life.

In the experiment, five cats were directly injected with the virus, and none of them showed symptoms of the disease. Six days later, researchers tested the upper respiratory tracts of the two cats and found viral nucleic acid and infectious virus particles. There are also 3 cats, and they are placed in adjacent cages with 3 other cats that have not received virus injections. In one of the "close contact" cats, viral RNA was later detected in the body.

On the one hand, this result shows that the new coronavirus "can be transmitted from cats to cats through respiratory droplets"; on the other hand, Professor Saif believes that the proportion of contact infection is 1/3, "indicating that the transmission rate of the new coronavirus in cats may not be high." High."

In addition, the same experiment was carried out on 5 puppies. Among them, viral nucleic acid was detected in the feces of 2 dogs, but no infectious virus particles were found.

Of course, many people are more concerned about whether cats infected with the new coronavirus can pass the virus to humans? Including this study, there is currently no evidence that cats can pass the virus to humans, so pet owners do not need to panic. There is no reason. Therefore, cats are discarded and culled.

The U.S. CDC advises pet owners that if they are infected with the new coronavirus or are quarantined at home, it is best to limit contact with pets, avoid directly petting, cuddling, and kissing pets.Avoid sharing food and beds with pets.

Professor Dirk Pfeiffer, an epidemiologist at City University of Hong Kong, believes that the results of this study show that it is necessary to take cats into consideration when preventing and controlling the epidemic, but they are not the main factor in the spread of the disease. "Therefore, the focus of controlling COVID-19 is not at all important." There is no doubt that it is still about reducing the risk of human-to-human transmission.”

For each of us, the most important thing at the moment is to protect ourselves and avoid going to crowded places. For cat owners, keep your cats away from places with lots of people and cats. In fact, the harm caused by domestic cats to wild animals outdoors cannot be ignored. There is another important reason not to let cats out at home.