For the first time since the pandemic began, a cat has infected a human with COVID-19.
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According to a study by the Prince of Songkla University in Thailand, a veterinarian was infected by a cat during an examination.
All veterinarians at the clinic who had contact with the animal wore necessary equipment such as N95 masks, gloves and goggles.
Three days after the examination, one of the doctors developed symptoms.
It appears the animal’s owners tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the appointment. However, they would not have been in contact with the specialist and would have followed the isolation methods to avoid transmission of the virus.
At the moment, the most likely hypothesis is that the cat would have transmitted the virus by sneezing near the vet’s face.
The study confirms that cats can transmit the virus to humans, but this is extremely rare. Since the spring of 2020, however, the opposite has been observed several times.