Italy

British coronavirus variant identified in cat in Italy

cde.news desk 19 March 2021, 05:10 · 1 min read

Street cats rest in the shelter house for feral cats at the SPCA (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) in Jerusalem, Israel 13 January 2016. The Israeli street cat population is estimated to be about two million. Without enough financial support from the state, animal rights organizations find it difficult to keep the up with the pace when it comes to spaying and neutering feral cats, causing the population to grow. EPA/ABIR SULTAN PLEASE REFER TO THIS ADVISORY NOTICE (epa05113795) FOR FULL PACKAGE TEXT

A cat in Italy has been diagnosed with the a variant of coronavirus that originated in Britain, according to a report.

The eight-year-old male began showing respiratory symptoms about 10 days after its owners went into isolation at home in the northern province of Novara, west of Milan, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The Animal Health Research Institute of Piedmont, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta said it detected the British variant in the cat.

Angelo Ferrari, the director of the institute, said that “This diagnosis and the identification of the British variant shows that the pandemic control and integrated management systems are effective and ready to respond,” said

The institute said the cat and its owners were recovering.

Earlier this year, a group of scientist warned cats and dogs may need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to prevent the spread of the virus.

ANSA / Corriere

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British coronavirus variant identified in cat in Italy

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