World Health Organisation monitoring Hong Kong dog’s coronavirus tests
- Scientists in the city check whether the Pomeranian is really infected, or if the pathogen was just on its body because of proximity to its owner, thought to have been infected
- ‘We are working with authorities in Hong Kong,’ says head of global body
Global health chiefs are working with Hong Kong authorities and scientists looking into the case of a pet dog that tested “weak positive” for the coronavirus.
The Pomeranian, believed to belong to a local Covid-19 patient, was being tested further on Saturday to see if it really was infected, or if the pathogen was merely found on its body because of proximity to its owner.
The collaboration between the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the city government came after the Hong Kong health authority made a strong appeal on Friday that dogs, cats or any other mammals kept as pets by infected patients be handed over to the government for quarantine.
“We are working with authorities in Hong Kong and scientists in Hong Kong who are testing this animal, the dog,” the WHO’s technical head for health emergencies programme Maria Van Kerkhove said at the organisation’s daily media briefing on Friday.
“And to understand if the dog is actually infected or if the dog picked this up from a contaminated surface.”
She added that the international organisation would try to learn what further tests were taken and how any animals testing positive for the virus would be treated.