COVID-19 And Animals: South Carolina Dog Tests Positive As Spain Orders Culling Of 100K Minks

It seems like the COVID-19 pandemic is taking its toll on animals across the world. A dog in Charleston County, South Carolina, became the first canine in the state to test positive for coronavirus. Meanwhile, in Spain, authorities ordered the culling of almost 100,000 mink after many of them tested positive for the virus.

According to a press release by the Clemson University, the dog, an eight or nine-year-old shepherd mix, tested positive after it was euthanized for chronic health issues. It was not clear if the health issues were COVID-19-related.

“Based on current knowledge, there continues to be no evidence that pets play a significant role in spreading SARS-CoV-2 to people. It remains a good idea to restrict contact with your pets and other animals, just like you do with other people, if you are infected with COVID-19 in order to protect them from exposure to the virus as recommended by the CDC,” state veterinarian Boyd Parr said in the news release.

“Clemson Livestock Poultry Health and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) continue to investigate this case with USDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assure any information relevant to COVID-19 is documented,” the release said.

In Spain, almost 100,000 farmed mink will be culled after seven workers on the farm as well as a number of mammals tested positive for the virus.

In a statement Thursday, July 16, the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Environment of Spain's Aragon region said the farm was shut down and the workers and animals were tested for the virus. Tests concluded 87% of the sample had become infected with the virus. Following this, the authorities decided to cull the mammals as a preventative measure. The department, however, couldn’t confirm whether "there is human-to-animal transmission or vice versa.”

Till date, enough information is not available to confirm if animals can spread the virus.

In a statement in June, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated “the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low.” The agency, however, said in some situations “It appears that the virus that causes COVID-19 can spread from people to animals.”