For the first time in Switzerland a cat has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Cats, like dogs, are however not believed to play a major role in the spread of the virus.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/jdp
Português
pt
Suíça tem primeiro caso de gato infectado pela Covid-19
According to the Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (BLV)External link, the case was reported by the veterinary medicine laboratory at the University of Zurich. The cat had been tested in the context of a research project and came from a household with a person who had also tested positive.
Other isolated cases of coronavirus infections in pets have been reported in other countries. Almost all the infected pets came from households with individuals who tested positive for Covid-19.
In a press release, the BLV said that it believes transmission from humans to cats is rare but cannot be ruled out. It doesn’t believe regular testing for cats is necessary. Infected cats do not show any symptoms or if they do, they are usually mild.
There is also no evidence that cats and dogs pose a risk of infection for humans, the office said.
However, it stressed that it’s important for infected persons to observe the hygiene rules, even with cats. This includes no close contact between animals and humans such as licking of the face and letting the animal sleep in the owner’s bed. It is also important to thoroughly clean feeding bowls.
It advises against disinfecting animals or putting a mask on them – “for the sake of animal welfare”.
Popular Stories
More
Culture
Documentary portrays Swiss teenagers forced to return to parents’ homeland
Demonstrators rally in support of Swiss steelworks Gerlafingen
This content was published on
Around 1,000 people demonstrated in front of the Stahl Gerlafingen steel plant on Saturday to demand the preservation of the site.
Basel autumn fair attracted over 1 million visitors
This content was published on
The Basel autumn fair, or Herbstmesse, saw record attendance, with more than a million visitors, city authorities said on Saturday.
Swiss Federal Railways want direct trains between Zurich and Rome
This content was published on
In addition to the new connections to Italy announced on Friday, the Swiss Federal Railways would like to see a direct link between Zurich and Rome.
Swiss village Brienz to be evacuated due to rockslide risk
This content was published on
Local authorities announced that up to 1.2 million cubic metres of rock could move towards the mountain village of Brienz. The municipality is preparing a preventive evacuation.
Swiss businesses losing billions due to Temu and Shein
This content was published on
Swiss businesses are losing billions of francs a year as a result of the spread of Chinese online platforms Temu and Shein, says the director of the federation of Swiss retailers.
Direct trains to run from Zurich to Florence and Livorno
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Railways and Trenitalia will offer direct trains from Zurich to Florence and Livorno and vice versa from 2026.
Number of Swiss armed forces exceeds specified limit
This content was published on
The Swiss armed forces had an effective headcount of around 147,000 as of March 1, 2024. This exceeds the upper limit of 140,000 specified in the army organisation by 5%.
More than 400,000 cross-border commuters now work in Switzerland
This content was published on
More than half of all cross-border commuters were resident in France (around 57%). Large proportions also lived in Italy (23%) and Germany (around 16%).
This content was published on
One in three Swiss households has a cat. So it's no surprise that the nation's cat lovers go to extremes to improve the lives of their feline friends.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.