Forwarded email from Hong Kong is below.
Dear Sir/Madam,
You may be aware of the recent repeated detection of low level of the novel coronavirus (“SARS-CoV-2”) in a dog whose owner is a confirmed patient of the novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”). Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (“AFCD”) has consulted experts from the School of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences of the City University of Hong Kong and the World Organisation for Animal Health (“OIE”) on the test results, and it has been unanimously agreed that these results suggest that the dog has a low-level of infection and it is likely to be a case of human-to-animal transmission.
Back in 2003 during the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong, a small number of pets also tested positive but none became sick. There was no evidence of viral transmission from pet dogs or cats to humans. The detection of low level of SARS-CoV-2 in this dog warrants further investigation to gain better understanding on the role of dogs (and other pets) in the epidemiology of the COVID-19 and AFCD is currently working with the OIE and various experts on the case.
Given the absence of clinical signs in the dog of concern, we would recommend you and your paraprofessional colleagues to take appropriate precautions when conducting close examination of pets with a known or suspected history of respiratory disease or a link to a confirmed case of the COVID-19. Your help to educate and provide correct information of COVID-19 to pet owners will also be of utmost importance to prevent abandonment of pets during the epidemic.
We have prepared a New Updates on Low-level of Infection with COVID-19 in Pet Dog (please refer to Annex attached ) to give you a clearer picture of the work and investigation our Department has conducted and would like to solicit your help and support to combat the epidemic and safeguard the welfare of animals together.
For more details of the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 in the pet dog, please refer to the following press release:
https://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/publications/publications_press/pr2335.html https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202003/04/P2020030400658.htm
Should you have any enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us by email (email address: mailbox@afcd.gov.hk).
Thank you very much for your attention.
Best regards,
Technical Services Division
Inspection and Quarantine Branch
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department