PUTRAJAYA: Members of the public, especially pet owners, have been advised to take necessary precautions by minimising contact with all animals.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said since the virus was commonly found in animals, it would be practical for the people to avoid close contact with animals including pets.
"What is important now is that we are telling people to try and avoid close contact with animals because there’s a possibility that when humans have close contact with animals and if it is infected with Covid-19, then the virus may infect humans too.
"We need to take all necessary precautions to protect ourselves by maintaining good personal hygiene and such, otherwise we can become the victim as well,” he told a press conference here today.
Asked about pets whose owners are Covid-19 positive patients, Dr Noor Hisham said the animals should be referred to a veterinarian.
He said a veterinarian would have to do the necessary checks on the pets to find out if there was a need to euthanise it.
Earlier today, it was reported that a four-year-old female Malayan tiger named Nadia had tested positive for Covid-19 at the Bronx Zoo, New York City, in the United States.
Nadia, along with six other big cats, is thought to have been infected by an asymptomatic zookeeper.
The cats started showing symptoms, including a dry cough, late last month after exposure to the employee, who has not been identified.