ZTS - WHO Says There's No Evidence That Pets Can Pass Coronavirus to Humans
The World Health Organization (WHO) was previously convinced that cats and dogs couldn't get infected by SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. It even had that point listed on its myth-buster web page.
But now the agency isn't so sure after a report of a dog that tested positive in Hong Kong after remaining with its owners who had COVID-19. Fortunately for the dog, it didn't have any clinical signs of the disease. But meanwhile, pet health companies including Zoetis (NYSE: ZTS) and Heska (NASDAQ: HSKA) had been working on developing tests for companion animals that may be affected by COVID-19.
While the dog tested positive for the virus, it didn't have a measurable amount antibodies to the virus, but that may be because the virus was cleared so quickly that the dog's immune system didn't have a chance to develop an antibody response.