Dutch Government Says There Might Be a First Case of Animals Spreading Coronavirus to Humans

It’s distressing enough to have to avoid every other human on the street in this ongoing epidemic, but it seems that in due time…

We might’ve to avoid every other critter in the country as well.

According to CNA, the first alleged case of animal-to-human transmission have been reported…

Though if there’s any consolation, it’s that such scenarios are still few and far between.

Dutch Government Says There Might Be a First Case of Animals Spreading Coronavirus to Humans

According to a statement by government and health authorities on Monday (25 May), minks harbouring the Coronavirus have infected two people over in the Netherlands.

Lest you’re not aware, a mink is a highly adorable creature that’s so cute, you’d want to bug them to sleep every night:

The cases are believed to be the first instances of animal-to-human transmission in the world.

In a letter to parliament, Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten detailed the two cases, stating that mink carrying the virus have been found on 4 of the 155 farms in the country.

On three of the aforementioned farms, a sick human has been shown to have been the source of infection. The fourth is still being investigated.

The Risk Is Still Negligible

Despite the unprecedented cases, the agricultural minister has been quick to downplay the shock factor, stating that the risk of such transmission cases outside the farm was essentially “negligible”.

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The Netherlands’ Institute for Health’s (RIVM) director Jaap van Dissel has also supported the notion, stating that while there have been cases of animals being infected by humans, the Dutch mink-to-human transmissions were pretty much “unique”.

“This is the first time we’ve found, at least we’ve shown that it’s likely, that in two cases the infection has gone from animal to human,” he said to parliament on Monday.

He did, however, concede the possibility that the original source of infection might have been animalistic in nature as well.

“Of course the original source of infection in China was also very likely animals.”

No Real Need To Fear

In other news, this latest revelation would certainly prove ‘conspiracy theories‘ about animal-to-human transmissions correct.

And any assurance that there’s no such thing, rather unfortunately, would have to be scrapped in favour of reality.

Nevertheless, while a conclusion wasn’t explicitly stated in the aforementioned paragraphs, I think it’s fair to surmise that there’s no real need to fear animals… yet.

Though of course, things may change. And the time might even come when your beloved puppy Diz will have to be quarantined in its own doggy house.

But until then, you can still afford to rest on your laurels with your pet, because it’s probably the safest companion you can possibly have in the current state of things.

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