Scientists are working on a special COVID-19 vaccine for cats

Scientists are working to create a COVID-19 vaccine for animals. It is estimated that the first test samples may be ready as early as this fall. The need for this drug is experienced primarily by farms. But the vaccine will also be available to all animals that are exposed to the virus, including pets.

The vaccine is needed primarily for minks, because in Holland and Denmark on farms due to coronavirus, several million weasels have been destroyed: they quickly transmit the virus to each other, ” Dankvert commented.
The expert also recalled that minks are capable of transmitting coronavirus infection directly to humans.

The new vaccine will be universal for all animals susceptible to the disease, the head of the Rosselkhoznadzor explained. First of all, it can be in demand by domestic animal husbandries, however, people are likely to want to vaccinate pets, for example, cats.

Dankvert said that if the drug is in demand, it will be produced for veterinary clinics. According to the specialist, it is too early to talk about the timing of the readiness of the new vaccine, however, scientists hope that the first samples for wide production trials will appear by the fall.

Previously, the symptoms of coronavirus infection in pets were voiced. Experts have found that dogs and cats can become infected with the virus. Moreover, dogs carry the infection without obvious symptoms, but cats have all the symptoms of SARS. In particular, this is a fever, cough, sneezing, discharge from the nose and eyes. Some individuals showed signs of acute intestinal infection with vomiting and diarrhea.

So far, according to WHO, no cases of human infections from dogs and cats have been identified.