<p>A pet cat has been infected with the novel coronavirus in Belgium after being contaminated by its owner, Belgian health authorities said Friday.</p>.<p>Cases of contamination of pets are rare and authorities ruled out any risk of contamination to humans from home animals.</p>.<p>The reports follows similar cases in Hong Kong where two dogs tested positive for COVID-19 during a screening campaign carried out on 17 dogs and eight cats living in contact with people carrying the virus.</p>.<p>In Belgium, the discovery was made by researchers at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Liege.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-deaths-on-march-28-818433.html" target="_blank">Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</a></strong></p>.<p>This is "an isolated case" which can occur after "close contact between animals and infected humans", said Doctor Emmanuel Andre, a government agency spokesman on the pandemic.</p>.<p>The virus can be transmitted from humans to animals but "there is no reason to think that animals can be vectors of the epidemic in our society", he said.</p>.<p>In Hong Kong, "the dogs showed no symptoms", while in Belgium "the cat was suffering from transitory respiratory and digestive problems", said the Belgian food safety agency AFSCA in a statement.</p>.<p>"So far, there is no evidence that a domestic animal can transmit the virus to humans or other pets", the public authority said.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-news-live-updates-statewise-total-number-of-cases-deaths-statistics-lockdown-latest-news-817763.html" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live updates of coronavirus cases in India here</strong></a></p>.<p>As a precautionary measure, it is "strongly recommended" to apply standard rules of hygiene when dealing with pets: "avoid close contact with pets... wash your hands after handling any animal, do not let the animal lick your face."</p>.<p>The aim is to prevent the transmission of the virus to the animal and to prevent the animal itself from becoming a carrier of the virus.</p>
<p>A pet cat has been infected with the novel coronavirus in Belgium after being contaminated by its owner, Belgian health authorities said Friday.</p>.<p>Cases of contamination of pets are rare and authorities ruled out any risk of contamination to humans from home animals.</p>.<p>The reports follows similar cases in Hong Kong where two dogs tested positive for COVID-19 during a screening campaign carried out on 17 dogs and eight cats living in contact with people carrying the virus.</p>.<p>In Belgium, the discovery was made by researchers at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Liege.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-deaths-on-march-28-818433.html" target="_blank">Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</a></strong></p>.<p>This is "an isolated case" which can occur after "close contact between animals and infected humans", said Doctor Emmanuel Andre, a government agency spokesman on the pandemic.</p>.<p>The virus can be transmitted from humans to animals but "there is no reason to think that animals can be vectors of the epidemic in our society", he said.</p>.<p>In Hong Kong, "the dogs showed no symptoms", while in Belgium "the cat was suffering from transitory respiratory and digestive problems", said the Belgian food safety agency AFSCA in a statement.</p>.<p>"So far, there is no evidence that a domestic animal can transmit the virus to humans or other pets", the public authority said.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-news-live-updates-statewise-total-number-of-cases-deaths-statistics-lockdown-latest-news-817763.html" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live updates of coronavirus cases in India here</strong></a></p>.<p>As a precautionary measure, it is "strongly recommended" to apply standard rules of hygiene when dealing with pets: "avoid close contact with pets... wash your hands after handling any animal, do not let the animal lick your face."</p>.<p>The aim is to prevent the transmission of the virus to the animal and to prevent the animal itself from becoming a carrier of the virus.</p>