COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2),
Hong Kong (SAR - PRC)
Information received on 11/08/2020 from Dr Thomas Sit, Chief Veterinary Officer / Assistant Director (Inspection & Quarantine), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Hong Kong , Hong Kong (SAR - PRC)
Summary
Report type Follow-up report No. 1
Date of start of the event 21/07/2020
Date of confirmation of the event 23/07/2020
Report date 10/08/2020
Date submitted to OIE 11/08/2020
Date event resolved 14/08/2020
Reason for notification Emerging disease
Morbidity 1 (scale 0 to 5)
Mortality 0 (scale 0 to 5)
Zoonotic impact Zoonotic potential unknown at this time
Causal agent SARS-CoV-2
Related reports Immediate notification (24/07/2020)
Follow-up report No. 1 (10/08/2020)
Follow-up report No. 2 (19/08/2020)
Follow-up report No. 3 (03/09/2020)
New outbreaks (5)
Outbreak 1 (20-10253, DSH) Tai Kok Tsui, Yau Tsim Mong District, Hong Kong
Date of start of the outbreak 28/07/2020
Outbreak status Resolved (08/08/2020)
Epidemiological unit Other
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Cats 1 1 0 0 0
Affected population A cat kept in the same household as a confirmed COVID-19 patient. The animal did not show any relevant clinical signs.
Outbreak 2 (20-10432, Yorkshire Terrier ) Sham Shui Po, Yau Tsim Mong District, Hong Kong
Date of start of the outbreak 31/07/2020
Outbreak status Resolved (13/08/2020)
Epidemiological unit Other
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Dogs 1 1 0 0 0
Affected population A dog kept in the same household of a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 patient. The animal did not show any relevant clinical signs.
Outbreak 3 (20-10430-2, 10532, Scottish Shorthair) Tsuen Wan, Tsuen Wan District, Hong Kong
Date of start of the outbreak 31/07/2020
Outbreak status Resolved (13/08/2020)
Epidemiological unit Other
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Cats 1 1 0 0 0
Affected population A cat kept in the same household as a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 patient. The animal did not show any relevant clinical signs.
Outbreak 4 (20-10432, DSH) Tuen Mun, Tuen Mun District, Hong Kong
Date of start of the outbreak 04/08/2020
Outbreak status Resolved (14/08/2020)
Epidemiological unit Other
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Cats 1 1 0 0 0
Affected population A cat kept in the same household as a confirmed COVID-19 patient. The animal did not show any relevant clinical signs.
Outbreak 5 (20-10600, Siberian Husky) Wan Chai, Wan Chai District, Hong Kong
Date of start of the outbreak 06/08/2020
Outbreak status Resolved (13/08/2020)
Epidemiological unit Other
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Dogs 1 1 0 0 0
Affected population A dog kept in the same household of a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 patient. The animal did not show any relevant clinical signs.
Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 5
Total animals affected
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Cats 3 3 0 0 0
Dogs 2 2 0 0 0
Outbreak statistics
Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Cats 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Dogs 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
*Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
  • Likely human to animal transmission
Epidemiological comments A veterinary surveillance system is in place for animals epidemiologically linked to confirmed human cases. Samples will be collected for testing of SARS-CoV-2 as appropriate. From the period of 21 July to 11 Aug 2020, swab samples from a total of 4 cats and 2 dogs have been detected positive by rRT-PCR. The animals do not exhibit any specific clinical signs. Risk management measures are in place for all cases, including cleansing and disinfection of the premises, and proper personal hygiene and protection.
Control measures
Measures applied
  • Screening
  • Traceability
  • Quarantine
  • Disinfection
  • Vaccination permitted (if a vaccine exists)
  • No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
  • No other measures
Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type Species Test Test date Result
Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department (National laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 30/07/2020 Positive
Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department (National laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 31/07/2020 Positive
Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department (National laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 04/08/2020 Positive
Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department (National laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 05/08/2020 Positive
Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department (National laboratory) Dogs real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 04/08/2020 Positive
Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department (National laboratory) Dogs real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 10/08/2020 Positive
Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department (National laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 24/07/2020 Positive
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong (Regional Reference Laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 23/07/2020 Positive
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong (Regional Reference Laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 28/07/2020 Positive
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong (Regional Reference Laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 29/07/2020 Positive
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong (Regional Reference Laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 03/08/2020 Positive
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong (Regional Reference Laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 06/08/2020 Positive
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong (Regional Reference Laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 06/08/2020 Positive
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong (Regional Reference Laboratory) Dogs real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 03/08/2020 Positive
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong (Regional Reference Laboratory) Dogs real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 07/08/2020 Positive
Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
Map of outbreak locations