ATLANTA: A dog in Georgia is believed to have been the second canine in the US to test positive for the virus that causes Covid-19, officials said.
The six-year-old mixed-breed dog was tested after its owners contracted Covid-19 and the dog began suffering from a neurological illness, the Georgia Department of Health said on Wednesday. The dog was positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
The dog was euthanised after the neurological illness progressed. Officials said the dog’s neurological illness was caused by a condition unrelated to the coronavirus. Guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that based on the limited information available so far, the risk of pets spreading coronavirus to people “is considered to be low.”
Health officials have advised people to avoid contact with their pets including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, sharing food when they are ill.