Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has reiterated that animals do not pose a meaningful risk in the spread of COVID-19. This announcement follows the confirmation of four cases involving five dogs in Mexico, all of whom had direct contact with individuals who tested positive for the disease.

Scientific Backing and Recommendations

The ministry emphasized that its stance is supported by scientific studies conducted by the World Health Institution (WHO). These studies indicate that animals, notably companion animals, can contract the virus through direct contact with infected humans. As a precautionary measure, the ministry has recommended isolation measures for pets to protect them from potential contagion.

According to scientific studies by the World Health Organization (WHO), animals, mainly companion animals, can be victims by direct contact with infected humans, so he has recommended isolation measures with pets, to protect them from possible contagion.

Preventative Measures and Surveillance

As April, the National Agro-alimentary Health, Safety and Quality Service (senasica) has issued guidelines for veterinarians to prevent and detect potential COVID-19 cases in animals exposed to infected individuals. These measures include considering the pet’s history of COVID-19 exposure through their owners and advising owners who have contracted the disease to limit their interaction with animals.

Veterinarians are instructed to report any suspected cases of animal-to-animal transmission to the Mexico-States Commission for the Prevention of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and other exotic animal diseases (CPA) of Senasica. This can be done by calling 800 751 2100 or through the AVISE mobile application.

National Surveillance Efforts

Senasica’s nationwide epizootiological surveillance has addressed 25 notifications of suspected disease. These include:

• 16 in dogs
• 7 in cats
• 1 in a zoo tiger
• 1 in a guinea pig

These notifications originated from 12 states, including Mexico City, the State of Mexico, Jalisco, and others. Samples collected by Senasica personnel were analyzed in the CPA’s level three biosafety laboratory, resulting in four positive cases in five dogs in the Metropolitan Area of Mexico City. These cases were unrelated and did not exhibit severe symptoms.

Case Details and Timeline

The first identification of SARS-Cov-2 occurred on April 27 in two dogs from the iztapalapa mayor’s office in Mexico City, confirmed by RT-PCR molecular testing.Subsequent cases were detected on August 13 in a five-year-old dog in the Cuauhtémoc mayor’s office, in a five-month-old Siberian Husky in Cuautitlán, State of Mexico, and most recently, in a Dachshund in the Iztacalco mayor’s office in Mexico City.

Reassurance and Continued Research

The federal agency reassures the public that animals are accidental victims of SARS-CoV-2 through close contact with infected humans. There is no scientific evidence suggesting that dogs and cats pose a risk of maintaining and spreading the virus to people.

It emphasizes that the community should not be alarmed, since animals are accidental victims of SARS-CoV-2 when they are in close contact with people infected with COVID-19, since there is no scientific evidence that dogs and cats represent a risk of maintenance and dissemination of viruses to people.

Positive animals will undergo serological tests to identify the generation of antibodies against the pathogen, following agency protocols.Senasica is the only authorized body in Mexico to collect and process samples from animals suspected of COVID-19 infection, with veterinarians responsible for reporting potential infections after reviewing the clinical history of humans who had contact with the animal.

Global Context and Initial Responses

The initial suspicion that SARS-CoV-2 could affect pets emerged in Hong Kong in late February, prompting veterinary services worldwide to adjust their epizootiological surveillance systems. In mid-April,the United States reported its first confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 in a dog,a German Shepherd experiencing breathing difficulties and vomiting. Additionally, the New York Zoo reported a tiger testing positive for COVID-19 on April 5.

Senasica’s Response and Capabilities

In response to these global events, Senasica, through the General Directorate of Animal Health, implemented measures to detect suspected cases of COVID-19 in animals. This included issuing care and biosecurity protocols through veterinary organizations and associations of zoos and aquariums.

Senasica’s CPA operates high-security level 3 (BSL3) laboratories capable of handling dangerous viruses, staffed by trained personnel in the diagnosis of exotic and emerging diseases. The agency also has veterinarians prepared to address reports of viral diseases and implement emergency plans for exotic diseases.

Ongoing Investigations

Senasica has isolated the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the first case in its high-security laboratory. The virus has been fully sequenced at Senasica’s National Center for Animal Health Verification Services (CENAPA), and no mutations were identified that pose a risk of species jumping.

Current research within Senasica’s animal health laboratories focuses on accurate diagnosis through molecular techniques, isolation, and viral identification, as well as confirmatory serological tests. This research acknowledges the presence of various coronaviruses in domestic animal populations in Mexico that routinely cause diseases in birds, pigs, cattle, canines, and felines, for which veterinary vaccines exist and are not transmissible to people.