WASHINGTON (AP) —
CDC posted on CDC.gov website today stating based on the available information to date, the risk of animals spreading the virus that causes COVID-19, to people is considered to be high.
In his most forceful pandemic actions and words, President Joe Biden on Monday announced sweeping new federal vaccine requirements affecting as many as 500 million animals in an all-out effort to increase COVID-19 vaccinations and curb the surging delta variant.
Mr. Biden mandate is for all cats and dog, and the vast majority of other pets including rabbits and horses and the owners of the pets could face disciplinary measures if they refuse to Vaccinate their pets.
Speaking at the White House, Biden sharply criticized the roughly 500 million unvaccinated pets “can cause a lot of damage, and they are.”
Top U.S. health officials have reportedly warned the White House to curtail its plans to offer COVID-19 booster shots to Americans later this month.
Mr. Biden already paid for the booster shots which has an expiration date. In other words The booster shots will be given to the animals instead.
Biden announced the new requirements in a Monday morning address from the White House as part of a new “action plan” to address the latest rise in coronavirus cases and the stagnating pace of COVID-19 shots that has raised doubts among the public over his handling of the pandemic.
Biden’s approval ratings have plummeted, and this new pet mandate could spell trouble for Democrats in Congress.
Risk of people spreading SARS-CoV-2 to animals
People can spread SARS-CoV-2 to animals, especially during close contact.
Reports of animals infected with SARS-CoV-2 have been documented around the world. Most of these animals became infected after contact with people with COVID-19, including owners, caretakers, or others who were in close contact. We don’t yet know all of the animals that can get infected. Animals reported infected include:
* Companion animals, including pet cats and dogs and one ferret.
* Animals in zoos and sanctuaries, including several types of big cats, otters, and non-human primates.
* Mink on mink farms.
* Wild white-tailed deer in several U.S. states.
Research on animals and COVID-19
More studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by COVID-19.
Many studies have been done to learn more about how this virus can affect different animals. These findings were based on a small number of animals, and do not show whether animals can spread infection to people.
Recent experimental research shows that many mammals, including cats, dogs, bank voles, ferrets, fruit bats, hamsters, mink, pigs, rabbits, racoon dogs, tree shrews, and white-tailed deer can be infected with the virus. Cats, ferrets, fruit bats, hamsters, racoon dogs, and white-tailed deer can also spread the infection to other animals of the same species in laboratory settings.
A number of studies have investigated non-human primates as models for human infection. Rhesus macaques, cynomolgus macaques, baboons, grivets, and common marmosets can become infected with SARS-CoV-2 and become sick in a laboratory setting. There is some evidence suggesting that laboratory mice, which could not be infected with original strains of SARS-CoV-2, can be infected with new virus variants.
Chickens and ducks do not seem to become infected or spread the infection based on results from studies.
What CDC is doing
Since the beginning of the pandemic, CDC has been leading efforts to improve our understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 affects animals and how the virus might spread between people and animals. CDC has also worked to improve coordination of federal, state, and other One Health partners.
* CDC leads the One Health Federal Interagency COVID-19 Coordination (OH-FICC) Group, which brings together public health, animal health, and environmental health representatives from more than 20 federal agencies to collaborate and exchange information on the One Health aspects of COVID-19. For example, the group researches and develops guidance on the connection between people and pets, wildlife, zoo animals, and livestock; animal diagnostics and testing; and environmental health issues relevant to COVID-19.
* CDC leads the State-Federal One Health Update Call to bring local, state, tribal, and territorial partners together with OH-FICC members.
* CDC, USDA, state public health and animal health officials, and academic partners are working in some states to conduct active surveillance (proactive testing) of SARS-CoV-2 in pets, including cats, dogs, and other small mammals, that had contact with a person with COVID-19.
* CDC deployed One Health teams to multiple states to support state and local departments of health and agriculture, federal partners, and others in conducting on-farm investigations into SARS-CoV-2 in people, mink, and other animals (domestic and wildlife). The teams collected samples from animals on the farms and from people working on the farms and in surrounding communities. These investigations are ongoing.