Two dogs are “asymptomatic patients,” says Prof. Peiris Malik

Professor Peiris Malik, chair in virology at the University of Hong Kong, found that two dogs infected with the coronavirus showed no symptoms of sickness and that animals may get infected only if they had very close contact with their infected owners.

Backdrop

• Hong Kong recorded two infected dogs – a 17-year-old Pomeranian with “weak positive” results, and a two-year-old German shepherd that tested “positive” repeatedly until Monday.
• Up to 18 animals have been put in quarantine by the city authorities by last week. All animals, apart from two cats with pending results, tested negative.

Of note

• Prof. Malik said that “dogs might only get infected if they were closely associated with their infected owners” and not “by walking on the streets.”
• Infection does not mean the dog is sick or has symptoms.
• SARS in 2003 also infected pets, “so we need to take precautions.”
• It is still unknown whether infected dogs could transmit the virus to another dog or a human.

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