Pug in North Carolina Tests Positive For Coronavirus, Possibly First U.S. Dog

A pet dog in North Carolina has tested positive for coronavirus, according to officials. The pug named Winston is believed to be the first canine case in the United States.

The Backstory 

It all started with Winston’s owners, the McLean family. Three members — a mother, father, and son — reportedly contracted COVID-19 last month. The father, Sam McLean, is an emergency room doctor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (who had treated COVID-19 patients) and was the first family member to get sick.  

On April 1, the family joined a study conducted by Duke. The study — Molecular and Epidemiological Study of Suspected Infection (MESSI) — examines how the body responds to infection in order to develop treatments or vaccines. As part of the study, family members underwent nasal swabs and gave blood samples. The mother, Heather McLean, told reporters at their local news station, WRAL-TV, that officials also tested their two dogs and cat.

Winston tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans. Dr. Chris Woods, the principal investigator of the Duke study, said the amount of virus detected was low.

The McLean’s other pets tested negative.

Winston “licks all of our dinner plates and sleeps in my mom’s bed, and we’re the ones who put our faces into his face. So, it makes sense that he got (coronavirus),” said McLean’s son, Ben.

Winston Showed Some Symptoms

The family says they noticed little Winston was coughing and sneezing. He also refused to eat his breakfast one morning, which is unusual. Here is the family’s interview with WRAL-TV:

As shown in the news clip above, the family confirms Winston is doing well and no longer showing any symptoms. 

Winston Isn’t The First U.S. Animal To Test Positive

On April 22 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced two pet cats with SAR-CoV-2. Earlier in the month, they also reported on tigers and lions at The Bronx Zoo in New York had tested positive. A 4-year-old tiger named Nadia, and six other tigers and lions had the virus.

Additionally, back in February and March, Hong Kong health officials announced a Pomeranian and German Shepard had tested positive for the virus.

Officials Still Say Pet Parents Shouldn’t Worry Or Fear Family Pets

According to the CDC, “At this time, there is no evidence that companion animals, including pets, can spread COVID-19 to people or that they might be a source of infection in the United States.” 

We will share more details as they become available.

The post Pug in North Carolina Tests Positive For Coronavirus, Possibly First U.S. Dog appeared first on Proud Dog Mom.



from Proud Dog Mom https://ift.tt/3f0SCQD

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can Dogs Have Breath Mints?

Image
Bad breath can lead to embarrassing situations and breath mints are used to prevent this from happening. The problem of bad breath is extremely common among dogs but can they have breath mints? The answer to this question is a YES only if the mints have been made specifically for dogs. You can find a lot of dog breath mints in the market. Generally, artificial forms of mint use Xylitol (an artificial sweetener) that is toxic for dogs. Due to this reason, it is highly recommended to avoid all kinds of mint products that may contain this ingredient. Basically, it causes a sudden release of insulin in the body that leads to hypoglycemia. According to VCA Hospitals , even the smallest quantities of Xylitol can cause seizures, liver failure, or even death. Help! My Dog Ate a Mint If your dog has eaten a mint leaf, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. On the other hand, if he/she has ingested a breath mint with Xylitol in it, you need to move quickly. Despite the fact that xyl...
Read more

Can Cats Drink Tea And Other Caffeinated Beverages?

Image
Watching your sneaky cat inch towards your morning brew, you’ve probably wondered if cats can drink tea, coffee, or other morning musts with caffeine. The answer is complicated when it comes to sharing tea with cats, but one thing’s for sure: coffee and felines should never mix. Chock full of caffeine and other stimulants, cats should never drink coffee as caffeine is toxic to cats . This includes decaffeinated coffee since the beans also contain theobromine , another stimulant that can sicken felines. In protecting your cat from caffeine, don’t let her drink caffeinated sodas or energy drinks either. Also look out for guarana, mate, and cacao when checking food labels. All three are natural sources of caffeine. Also, according to the Pet Poison Helpline, caffeine may go by the alternate names   methylxanthine and xanthine . Did you know you can also find caffeine in diet supplements, weight loss products, and over-the-counter medications? If your cat manages to steal a sip ...
Read more

7 Fall Hazards All Pet Parents Should Be Aware Of

Image
Fall — i t’s here and beautiful as ever. The foliage is starting to change, the air is getting crisper, days are becoming shorter, and the festive feelings of Halloween and Thanksgiving are in the air. But, along with the beauty of the season come some potential fall hazards that all pet parents should be aware of.  1. Rodenticides As the days are getting shorter and cooler, mother nature’s little outdoor critters will begin looking for some temporary fall and winter housing to call home. Mice and rats are notorious for trying to get inside garages, basements, attics, and sheds as they search for a cozy place to call home. To avoid unwanted little tenants, many households put out rodent poisons. If you use these poisons anywhere in your home, make sure to keep them hidden and far out of the reach of your canine kids. These chemical formulas are toxic and potentially deadly for your pooch. 2. Mushroom Poisoning Mushrooms have a habit of popping up around this time of the year...
Read more