SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19,
United States of America
Information received on 27/08/2020 from Dr Mark Davidson, Associate Administrator, USDA-APHIS, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, United States of America
Summary
Report type Follow-up report No. 16
Date of start of the event 27/03/2020
Date of confirmation of the event 04/04/2020
Report date 27/08/2020
Date submitted to OIE 27/08/2020
Reason for notification Emerging disease
Morbidity 2 (scale 0 to 5)
Mortality 1 (scale 0 to 5)
Zoonotic impact Zoonotic potential currently unknown
Causal agent SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19
Related reports Immediate notification (06/04/2020)
Follow-up report No. 1 (17/04/2020)
Follow-up report No. 2 (22/04/2020)
Follow-up report No. 3 (29/04/2020)
Follow-up report No. 4 (02/06/2020)
Follow-up report No. 5 (03/06/2020)
Follow-up report No. 6 (10/06/2020)
Follow-up report No. 7 (25/06/2020)
Follow-up report No. 8 (02/07/2020)
Follow-up report No. 9 (09/07/2020)
Follow-up report No. 10 (17/07/2020)
Follow-up report No. 11 (23/07/2020)
Follow-up report No. 12 (30/07/2020)
Follow-up report No. 13 (05/08/2020)
Follow-up report No. 14 (13/08/2020)
Follow-up report No. 15 (20/08/2020)
Follow-up report No. 16 (27/08/2020)
Follow-up report No. 17 (02/09/2020)
Follow-up report No. 18 (10/09/2020)
Follow-up report No. 19 (24/09/2020)
New outbreaks (6)
Outbreak 1 Coweta County, Coweta, Georgia
Date of start of the outbreak 14/07/2020
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Other
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Cats 1 1 0 0 0
Affected population Pet domestic cat (Felis catus) in a residential household
Outbreak 2 Utah, Utah
Date of start of the outbreak 03/08/2020
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae) 6326 1554 0 0
Affected population Domestic American Mink (Neovison vison) on a commercial farm
Outbreak 3 Utah, Utah
Date of start of the outbreak 05/08/2020
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae) 3643 1119 0 0
Affected population Domestic American Mink (Neovison vison) on a commercial farm
Outbreak 4 Hartford County, Hartford, Maryland
Date of start of the outbreak 10/08/2020
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Other
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Dogs 1 0 0 0 0
Cats 5 1 0 0 0
Affected population Pet domestic cat (Felis catus) in a residential household.
Outbreak 5 Contra Costa County, Contra Costa, California
Date of start of the outbreak 13/08/2020
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Other
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Cats 1 0 0 0
Affected population Pet domestic cat (Felis catus) in a residential household.
Outbreak 6 Utah, Utah
Date of start of the outbreak 15/08/2020
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae) 1705 205 0 0
Affected population Domestic American Mink (Neovison vison) on a commercial farm
Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 6
Total animals affected
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Cats 6 3 0 0 0
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae) 11674 ** 2878 0 0
Dogs 1 0 0 0 0
Outbreak statistics
Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Cats ** ** 0.00% **
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae) ** 24.65% ** 24.65%
Dogs 0.00% 0.00% - 0.00%
*Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
**Not calculated because of missing information
Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
  • Suspected human transmission
Epidemiological comments 27 Aug 2020 Update-- Georgia (GA): One additional dog in Berrien County, GA who has shown no clinical signs but shared the same household with the SARS-CoV-2 confirmed positive dog has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by virus neutralization (VN). A domestic cat from a known positive COVID-19 household was confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based upon molecular testing (PCR and sequencing). The affected cat was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and exhibited respiratory clinical signs that appeared to worsen. The cat tested positive for both mycoplasma felis and SARS-CoV-2 at the initial testing laboratory. Maryland (MD): A domestic cat from a known positive COVID-19 household was confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based upon molecular testing (PCR and sequencing). The affected cat showed mild clinical respiratory signs, but has since reportedly recovered. Four other cats and one dog residing in the same household have remained asymptomatic. All animals appeared healthy when resampling occurred on 8/21/2020. Swabs from all animals tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR except one oropharyngeal swab from one cat (Cts>35; serum sample not available). Antibody was detected in serum samples from the initial cat, one other cat and the dog. California (CA): A domestic cat from a known positive COVID-19 household was confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based upon molecular testing (PCR).The cat had very mild respiratory signs. Utah (UT): Following increased mortality rates, domestic American Mink (Neovison vison) from three commercial premises were confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based upon molecular testing (PCR and sequencing). Clinical signs included respiratory signs and sudden death. State Officials in Utah have quarantined the premises and are working closely with federal One Health partners to complete disposal and monitor the situation. Please note: To protect any data related to human cases, the location used for these outbreaks is that of the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UVDL), where animal testing samples were first collected. Due to limitations with the WAHIS system, the map notation indicates disease outbreaks in wild mink, however the affected populations are domesticated American Mink (Neovison vison) from commercial premises as stated above.
Control measures
Measures applied
  • 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
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) American Mink gene sequencing 19/08/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) American Mink real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 19/08/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) American Mink real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 25/08/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Cats gene sequencing 17/08/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Cats gene sequencing 19/08/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Cats gene sequencing 24/08/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Cats gene sequencing 25/08/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 17/08/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 19/08/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 24/08/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 25/08/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Dogs virus neutralisation test (VNT) 17/08/2020 Positive
National vEterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) American Mink gene sequencing 25/08/2020 Positive
Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
Map of outbreak locations