Social Distancing 101: Pets And Livestock
MT. VERNON, MO.
As we work through this time of COVID-19 it is expected that people are worried and concerned about the health of their family, friends, and loved ones. Many people are closer to their pets and livestock than they are to friends and family, after all, they are family members too. If you are concerned about returning to work and the risks associated with your pets and livestock then you will not want to miss the June 2nd, 2020 webinar, Social Distancing 101: Pets and Livestock. Register here to attend https://extension2.missouri.edu/events/social-distancing-101-pets-and-livestock.
What do you know about the coronaviruses? Can coronaviruses infect animals and can animals spread it to humans? The Centers for Disease Control identified that the first infections were linked to a live animal market and the virus is now spreading from person-to-person.
You may have heard about the first case of an animal testing positive for the coronavirus in the United States. Nadia, a Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York City tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. The tiger presented with a respiratory illness and after several lions and tigers at the zoom became ill, the tiger was tested. Public health officials believe a zoo employee was infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and exposed these large cats who became ill. Nadia and other infected big cats are currently doing well and the veterinarians anticipate a full recovery. If you would like to check in on Nadia and the others, Jim Breheny from the Bronx Zoo provides an update here https://www.facebook.com/AnimalPlanet/videos/217751436144568/.
Have you seen the social media posts that show the medication vial used to vaccinate cattle for coronavirus? This has been a popular post on social media that increased the concern and anxiety that livestock can transmit the virus to humans. In a statement from K-State veterinarian Gregg Hanzlicek, he says there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be transferred from livestock to humans. There are different strains of the coronavirus that is associated with the illnesses in cattle and can cause respiratory disease and neonatal diarrhea (Hanzlicek, G. March 2020. K-State Research and Extension News).
Join us for a Social Distancing 101: Pets and Livestock webinar session on June 2nd at 2 PM to learn more about coronavirus in pets and livestock. University of Missouri veterinarians, Leah A. Cohn, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, Small Animal Internal Medicine and John Middleton, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, Large Animal Internal Medicine will provide information and answer your questions about COVID-19 and the risks associated with pets and livestock.
Register for the session at https://extension2.missouri.edu/events/social-distancing-101-pets-and-livestock . ∆