The first-ever Cat to human SARS-CoV-2 transmission is reported from Thailand. According to reports, the transmission happened when the cat sneezed on the face of a veterinary surgeon.
According to Nature, “Three days later, the vet developed a fever, sniffles and a cough, and later tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, but none of her close contacts developed COVID-19, suggesting that she had been infected by the cat. Genetic analysis also confirmed that the vet was infected with the same variant as the cat and its owners, and the viral genomic sequences were identical.”
According to researchers, the cases of viruses transmitted from cats to humans are comparatively rare.
During the Hong Kong Covid outbreak, Hamsters were suspected of spreading the virus and now it’s a cat from Thailand who sneezed and transmitted it to the Veterinary Surgeon.
Sarunyou Chusri, a co-author and infectious disease researcher exclaimed that the virus was “accidentally” spread.
Adding to the study, researchers also claimed the results as ‘convincing’ and showed their concern towards the spread of the virus from an animal to a human.
According to the reports, the veterinary surgeon was swabbing the cat when she sneezed on the face of the surgeon while her masks and gloves were on.