'Very little risk' that pets can infect owners with Covid-19, says WHO

A man carrying a cat walks past security control at Vienna International Airport, July 1, 2020. PHOTO: REUTERS

GENEVA (REUTERS) - There is "very little risk" that pets can infect their owners with Covid-19, the chief scientist of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday (July 2).

Soumya Swaminathan, WHO chief scientist, told a Geneva news conference that felines, ferrets and "even tigers" have been infected with the disease.

"There is very little risk from domestic animals because there was some concern about domestic animals becoming a source of infection," she said.

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