Lest you’re unaware, humans aren’t the only species who may contract COVID-19.
Animals, unfortunately, are also susceptible to testing positive during the ongoing pandemic.
This comes despite no current evidence showing that animals play a significant role in transmitting COVID-19.
After all, remember how five of our Asiatic lions tested positive for the virus at Night Safari last November?
It looks like a similar incident has happened. This time though, in Hong Kong.
2,000 Hamsters from 34 Shops After Some Tested Positive for COVID-19
On Tuesday (18 Jan), some hamsters from 34 shops were tested positive for COVID-19.
Hong Kong ordered the culling of these animals in an attempt to slow down local transmissions.
Health authorities mentioned that all affected pet shops selling hamsters are to stop operations immediately. They are also required to handover the animals for further testing.
You may ask, but what if another pet in the remaining shop tests positive?
Should that occur, the shop staff on duty will be quarantined. The premise will also have to undergo a deep sanitisation process before business may carry on.
How It Happened
On Monday (17 Jan), a sales staff member at a Causeway Bay pet shop Little Boss was reportedly infected with the Delta variant. The pet shop has 15 branches and a warehouse.
Presently, there are now at least three known cases linked to the pet shop cluster. Authorities are trying to contact trace the 150 customers who visited the shop between 7 Jan and 15 Jan.
They would be required to quarantine.
In total, 11 samples emerged as positive out of the 125 samples taken from the stop. Additionally, 511 samples were taken from the warehouse. Some cages had traces of COVID-19, while others are still pending.
As a safety precaution, other animals that test negative for COVID-19 will be culled as well.
This include:
- Rabbits
- Guinea pigs
- Chinchillas
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Mixed Reaction Towards the Planned Cull
Authorities have stated that they were unsure if the virus was spread from the imported hamsters to humans. However, Hong Kong officials have called on residents to euthanise hamsters imported from 22 Dec 2021 to kerb the spread of COVId-19.
Thomas Sit, assistant director of Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation department spoke up about the matter.
“They’re excreting the virus, and the virus can infect other animals, other hamsters, and also human beings.”
However, the decision to cull over 2,000 hamsters drew some backlash.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said that the cull was not necessary. They also added that the authorities “did not take animal welfare and the human-animal bond into consideration”, and has urged the authorities to review the decision.
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