Pet owners in Los Angeles County are being offered free COVID-19 testing for animals and pets, despite no recent reported cases of the disease among animals in the area.
Veterinary Public Health has received funding from the State and Regional Epidemiological Council (CSTE) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor evidence of disease in animals.
LA Public Health tweeted, ‘Our goal is to support many different species of animals, including wildlife (deer, bats, raccoons), pets (dogs, cats, hamsters, pocket pets), marine mammals (seals), and more. to be tried.
So far, 177 animals have been tested, including popular household pets such as dogs, cats, hamsters and rabbits.
LA County has also swallowed bats, rats, opossums, sea lions and squirrels – but none have tested positive for COVID.
The publicly funded body says it is offering animal testing to ‘learn more about the importance of COVID-19 in human, animal and environmental interactions’.
It is unclear whether, if any, treatment will be offered to animals that test positive, the LA county said, adding that COVID symptoms in animals are similar to those commonly found in human victims.
Pet owners in Los Angeles County are being offered free COVID-19 testing for their pets, although the area has not reported any recent cases of the disease among animals.
A man wearing personal protective equipment holds a dog that has had a swab sample taken for the coronavirus disease. File photo of February 2021
So far 177 animals have been tested which includes 107 bats, 12 raccoons, 7 squirrels, 12 coyotes, 6 opossums, 1 rat and 6 sea lions.
LA Public Health’s Twitter account stopped commenting on its generous pet testing proposal, but that didn’t stop others on social media from mocking the idea.
‘In how many ways can they waste money?’ Jaroda asked.
John B wrote, ‘Closing comments tells you all you need to know’.
“I’m sure the line is around the block as it is in LA,” wrote another Twitter user.
‘Next Unicorn’, joked one follower.
‘I’m not sticking that Q-tip to my cats nose,’ said another.
LA Public Health’s Twitter account stopped commenting on its generous pet testing proposal, but that didn’t stop others on social media from mocking the idea.
The proposal comes just days after the CDC relaxed its guidelines for those exposed to COVID-19
In the past, the health agency had advised people who were exposed to the virus to quarantine for five days. Once the symptoms disappear, the quarantine may end.
Now, unvaccinated individuals are not required to quarantine after exposure, but are advised to wear a mask for 10 days or until they test negative.
Dr. Greta Masetti of the CDC said, “We are in a stronger position today as a nation with more tools – such as vaccinations, boosters and treatments – to protect ourselves and our communities from serious illness from COVID-19. For.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report authors in a press release issued by the CDC.
‘We also have a better understanding of how to protect people from exposure to the virus, such as wearing high-quality masks, testing and better ventilation. This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but also helps get us to the point where COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives,’ Masetti said.
An employee takes the temperature of a cat at the Cat Cafe in May 2020 following concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in pets
(This story has not been edited by seemayo staff and is published from a rss feed)