SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19,
United States of America
Information received on 22/04/2020 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. 2
Date of start of the event 27/03/2020
Date of confirmation of the event 04/04/2020
Report date 22/04/2020
Date submitted to OIE 22/04/2020
Reason for notification Emerging disease
Morbidity 2 (scale 0 to 5)
Mortality 0 (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)
New outbreaks (2)
Outbreak 1 Nassau County, Nassau, New York
Date of start of the outbreak 01/04/2020
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 Orange County, Orange, New York
Date of start of the outbreak 06/04/2020
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Other
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Cats 2 1 0 0 0
Affected population Pet domestic cat (Felis catus) in a residential household
Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 2
Total animals affected
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Cats 3 2 0 0 0
Outbreak statistics
Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Cats 66.67% 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
  • Suspected human transmission
Epidemiological comments 22 Apr 2020 Update--Two cats from separate households were sampled for respiratory illness. Clinical signs included sneezing and ocular discharge. Samples from the cats were tested by SARS-CoV-2 PCR after testing negative for other respiratory pathogens. One cat is from a two-cat household with a known COVID-19 affected person, the other from a household in an affected neighborhood and allowed to go outdoors. SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed in samples based upon molecular testing (PCR and sequencing) of samples from the initial testing laboratory and follow up samples obtained directly. Both cats are expected to fully recover, and testing of follow up samples indicated both cats were clearing the infection.
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) Cats gene sequencing 17/04/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Cats gene sequencing 20/04/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 15/04/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 20/04/2020 Positive
Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
Map of outbreak locations