Bangkok - (dpa) - It has long been known that cats are susceptible to infection with the Corona virus , like many other animals, but now fears have been raised that pet cats can infect their human owners with the virus, after conducting research on suspected transmission The virus from cats to humans in Thailand.

The researchers, who published a case report in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases in June, believe that it is possible for the Corona virus to be transmitted - most likely - from cats to humans.

In their report, the scientists talked about a case in Thailand, in which in August 2021 a veterinarian was infected with the Corona virus, while she was treating a cat in Songkhla, southern Thailand.

While making a swab from the nose, the cat sneezed towards the veterinarian, who was using a protective mask of the type "N95" and disposable gloves, but without using a face shield or eye protection glasses.

Genetic sequencing revealed that the viruses found in the cat, its owners and the vet were closely related.
However, scientists told the New York Times, the virus is transmitted more frequently from humans to cats than in the other direction.