Management following the first confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 in a domestic cat associated with a massive outbreak in South Korea

Han, Taewon; Ryu, Boyeong; Lee, Suyeon; Song, Yugyeong; Jeong, Yoongje; Kim, Ilhwan; Kim, Jeongmin; Kim, Eunjin; Lee, Wonjun; Lee, Hyunju; Hwang, Haekyoung

OBJECTIVES: We analyzed how the virus spreads to local communities, based on the results of an epidemiological investigation of a religious facility in which a large group of patients was infected. Furthermore, we report for the first time in South Korea that a domestic cat was infected with SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: An epidemiological investigation was conducted to investigate the group outbreak. In addition, to verify cat–cat or cat–human transmission, we monitored whether exposed cats or humans were infected. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the viral full-length genome test was conducted on the positive samples from both owners and the cats. RESULTS: Total number of SARS-CoV-2 cases rose from 78 individuals, who visited a religious facility who were involved in 42 transmitted cases in the community, either through close contact with household members (47.62%) or through a group outbreak (16.67%). We observed an infected cat as well as individuals to which they were exposed. However, neither—further—cat to cat nor cat to human transmission occurred. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 can be transmitted from humans to animals under certain conditions. Therefore, monitoring and studying the transmission of COVID-19, a novel infectious disease, between humans and animals is necessary through the One Health approach.