Rachael Boyle, Phillips-Rooks District Extension Agent Agriculture and Natural Resources

COVID-19

There have been several questions pertaining to COVID-19 and any potential interactions with animals. Here are the key points directly from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some cause illness in people and others cause illness in certain types of animals.
• Coronaviruses that infect animals can become able to infect people, but this is rare.
• The exact source of the current outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not known.
• There is no evidence that companion animals, including pets, can spread COVID-19.
• There is no evidence to suggest that imported animals or animal products imported pose a risk for spreading the 2019 novel coronavirus in the United States.

Please check out these CDC links:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/animals.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#animals

 If you have specific questions pertaining to COVID-19 and livestock, please check out this link:

https://extension.sdstate.edu/novel-coronavirus-and-livestock-there-connection

 As a reminder, we are still learning about this novel virus and its interactions with hosts. The links to the CDC are constantly being updated as we learn more, and as recommendations are made.