Cross species contamination

[Scoobos]

Saw the Bronx zoo post last night and it was enough to keep me awake for frickin hours.

Coronavirus: Tiger at Bronx Zoo tests positive for Covid-19 - BBC News

Pissed me off, to find out I wasn't a crackpot and that animals can get it - I knew I'd read it somewhere, a few months back .

Cats and dogs can get it as there are (admittedly rare) cases of it, but then again, how many countries are testing domestic animals in any quantity?

Tiger tests positive for coronavirus at Bronx Zoo, first known case in the world

I'm a massive animal lover, but ... why aren't they euthanising the animals, why are we running the risk of it crossing back with a nice new mutation?

Also, it was a bit fake newsy when it broke, as these articles were saying "Several animals" at 3am, now its "just" a Tiger, thank god.

Cats can infect each other with coronavirus, Chinese study finds | World news | The Guardian

Poor kitty is on lockdown now..

[BrilloPad]

Have any squirrels got it?

[scooterscot]

Have any squirrels got it?

Let's keep it real, please.

Was it a native red or immigrant black squirrel?

[Paddy]

My two pet bats caught it.

[Pogle]

EEK !

[NotAllThere]

There were also cases of swine-flu infecting dogs.

When you've got millions of cases, you'll get some rare things happening such as a cat testing positive.

It's only a problem for humans if
1. The virus mutates to be able to readily cross from cat to cat
2. The virus mutates again to be able to cross readily from cat to cat

So much depends on the exact biology of their immune systems. Really, there's no need to worry at this stage. Or even be slightly alarmed.

[ladymuck]

There were also cases of swine-flu infecting dogs.

When you've got millions of cases, you'll get some rare things happening such as a cat testing positive.

It's only a problem for humans if
1. The virus mutates to be able to readily cross from cat to cat
2. The virus mutates again to be able to cross readily from cat to cat

So much depends on the exact biology of their immune systems. Really, there's no need to worry at this stage. Or even be slightly alarmed.

Surely it also needs to mutate to cross from [insert pet of choice here] to human (again)?

[xoggoth]

Hope pigs don't get it. I'll be in trouble.

[BrilloPad]

Hope pigs don't get it. I'll be in trouble.

On the plus side, David Cameron will get it....

[vetran]

On the plus side, David Cameron will get it....

just be careful with sheep!