Earlier this week Hong Kong officials released reports that a dog had tested “weak positive” for the coronavirus, but were skeptical whether or not it was actually infected, or had just picked up the germs off another surface, Deseret News reports.
The pet received three separate “weak positive” test results from swabs of its nose and mouth on Feb. 27, Feb. 28 and March 2, according to the Associated Press.
After this further testing, it has been confirmed that the dog has a low level infection of COVID-19, making it the first case of human-to-animal transmission, the South China Morning Post reports.
While the dog does have the virus, it is likely it will not become ill, as it has not exhibited any symptoms up until this point, Live Science reports. Additionally, previous experience with SARS indicates that while humans could transmit COVID-19, which Live Science reports is a type of SARS virus, to animals, animals cannot transmit the virus to their owners — or even to other animals, reports CNA.
Concerned pet owners who become infected with the virus should avoid close contact with their animals and maintain good hygiene practices for themselves and their pets, but shouldn’t overly worried or abandon their pets, reports the Seattle Times.
Currently, the infected dog, a senior male Pomeranian, is doing well, CNBC reports.