A pug in NC named Winston has tested positive for COVID-19

[octoberlib]

The pet dog of a family taking part in a study at Duke University is apparently the first in the U.S. to test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.

Dr. Chris Woods, the lead investigator of the Molecular and Epidemiological Study of Suspected Infection (MESSI), confirmed in a statement to CBS News that, "To our knowledge, this is the first instance in which the virus has been detected in a dog. Little additional information is known at this time as we work to learn more about the exposure."

WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina, which was first to report the U.S. development, said the dog, a pug named Winston, is part of a family in Chapel Hill.The mother, father and son in that household were enrolled in the study and tested positive as well, WRAL said.

But another family dog and a cat didn't test positive. The family's lizard wasn't tested.The station quoted the mom, Heather McLean, a pediatrician at Duke, as saying Winston was having mild symptoms.


https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dog-thought-first-test-positive-us-new-coronavirus/

[JI7]

1. hoping it's nothing serious for them. One of the positive things happening

has been people adopting dogs during quarantine .

[Blues Heron]

2. all mammals are probably succeptible to this

not sure why people would think dogs wouldn't be. Just wear a mask, keep that thing leashed, and stay away from other peoples windows when you walk it. Do not let it off the leash in the park if that's the local law. And for gods sake pick up all that nasty dog shit.

One of the godsends of this quarantine is the reduction of barking from dogs whose owners were out having fun/work/play/school leaving the creatures at home to bark incessantly. Finally some peace! We still have a nasty lady who insists on bringing her two dogs directly (like 1 foot away) under our kitchen window. Total airhead.

[hlthe2b]

3. That this researcher didn't know that two dogs had previously tested positive diminishes his

credibility with me--neither of which were shown to be actually infected nor symptomatic linked to the virus. Had he asked ANY veterinarian, a representative of AVMA, any of the State Epidemiologists or COVID-19 epidemiologists at CDC or state health departments or even done a google search he would have found that there was considerable information available that should be kept in mind. Likewise, he would have found that thousands of dogs have been tested by VETCORP Laboratories and none has tested positive. Further, the suggestion that the dog was having mild symptoms did not come from an examining veterinarian.

Really unprofessional and misleading IMO. If one is going to suggest that a new species is susceptible to both infection and symptoms, as HAS been documented in cats one needs to do the actual science. That any animal (as any inanimate surface) can serve as a FOMITE for the virus is not questioned. The need to tease out the difference is the all important aspect and this researcher clearly has not done so.

May we find a range of susceptibility to COVID-19 among nonhuman species? Likely. But the key issue is whether they can serve as an amplifying host and thus pose a possibility of spread.

[HarlanPepper]

10. I thought the same thing reading the snippet

It makes it easy to disregard.

[obamanut2012]

4. I wondered if he graduated from Wake Forest

[hlthe2b]

5. pending NOBLE prize winner...

[obamanut2012]

8. His name is Winston, Wake is in Winston-Salem

It was a joke, don't get the eyeroll. Lighten up.

[hlthe2b]

9. Back at ya. I explained fully my issues with this "researcher" and his lacking approach.

I suppose next you will say you were being "sarcastic?" That seems to be "in vogue."

[still_one]

6. Pugs may have more issues with this because they usually have a smaller windpipe than

other breeds

[Buckeye_Democrat]

7. Mild symptoms?

Like a cough?