A second dog has tested positive for COVID-19 in Hong Kong.
The dog, a two-year-old German shepherd whose human had previously been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus in Pok Fu Lam, was placed in quarantine at a government facility earlier this week with another dog from the same residence.
As reported by South China Morning Post, oral and nasal swabs from the German shepherd confirmed a positive test, while the other dog has been determined to not currently have COVID-19.
"It is very likely that the two positive cases [in Hong Kong] are examples of human-to-dog transmission," Professor Malik Peiris of University of Hong Kong said in the report. "We will also follow up on the mixed-breed dog, but it has tested negative." Peiris, who's also a public health virologist at the university, said the plan now is for blood tests to be conducted.
A Pomeranian, 17, was previously reported as the first dog to have been tested "weak positive" for COVID-19. Though the dog later died after being released from quarantine, it's widely believed that the death was due to the dog's age and "underlying illnesses" as opposed to the novel coronavirus.
There has been some confusion regarding pets during global COVID-19 containment efforts.
"If you are sick with COVID-19 (either suspected or confirmed), you should restrict contact with pets and other animals, just like you would around other people," the CDC recommended, adding that they have no evidence suggesting that pets are able to spread COVID-19.
For additional information on animals and COVID-19, consult the CDC's guide.
