Your COVID-19 Questions & Answers
Response from Tom Belhorn
Q:
I am concerned about my family, especially my children, getting COVID-19 from our pets. Is the virus transmitted between animals and humans?
A:
In short, transmission of COVID-19 between pets and humans should not be a concern, but as always – practice healthy habits. A small number of animals outside the US tested positive after close contact with an individual with COVID. A tiger in a zoo in NYC did have respiratory symptoms and a positive COVID-19 test (and one of the zoo workers was suspected to be the source). But there is no evidence that companion animals (including pets) can spread the virus to people or are a source of infection in the US. If you are ill with COVID, you should restrict contact with people, and the CDC recommends trying to limit contact with pets as well, at least until more information is known. It is good general practice that if either you or your pet is ill, you should use strict handwashing and practice healthy habits; there are many other infectious agents that can be transmitted between animals and humans.
