What to do if an animal in a pet store, pet distribution facility, or pet breeding facility is suspected to have SARS-CoV-2 infection

Routine testing of companion animals for SARS-CoV-2 is currently not recommended. Animal testing for SARS-CoV-2 is available for mammalian species in certain situations; testing is not currently available for amphibians, reptiles, fish, or birds. Any facility that suspects a sick animal may be infected with SARS-CoV-2 should consult with their facility veterinarian. If the veterinarian suspects that the animal may be infected with SARS-CoV-2, they should contact their State Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) pdf icon or  State Animal Health Official (SAHO)external icon immediately.  After other common causes of respiratory and gastrointestinal disease are ruled out, the SPHV and/or SAHO will engage national animal health and public health officials to decide whether SARS-CoV-2 testing is warranted, based on current guidance for Evaluating and Testing Companion Animals for SARS-CoV-2.

If an animal is suspected to have SARS-CoV-2 infection, consult with a veterinarian to ensure that the animal is handled safely and received medical care if needed. The animal should be isolated and not have contact with people or other animals in the facility. Workers at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 should avoid contact with the sick animal.

Animal testing for SARS-CoV-2

Once the decision to test has been made, the SPHV and/or SAHO will initiate investigation, specimen collection, and testing pdf icon, in coordination with CDC and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).  State animal health laboratories can conduct animal testing, but any positive samples need to be confirmed through additional testing by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).

If an animal tests positive

Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals are posted by animal type, date, and state on USDA’s websiteexternal icon and must be reported by USDA to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).external icon If an animal tests positive for SARS-CoV-2, a One Health investigation should be initiated that involves collaboration between the facility and state and federal partners including public health and animal health officials to address human health, animal health, and animal welfare. CDC does not recommend euthanasia of animals that test positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Additional guidance for what to do if a companion animal tests positive for SARS-CoV-2 is available.

How to protect people and animals in pet stores, pet distribution facilities, and pet breeding facilities

People and animals in pet stores, pet distribution facilities and pet breeding facilities should ensure they review and adhere to their established state and industry biosafety and biosecurity practices. Biosecurity is a series of management practices designed to reduce the risk of disease agents being introduced and spread in a facility. To be effective, biosecurity measures must be put in place specific to each disease and each site or area.

There are some simple steps that pet stores, pet distribution facilities, and breeding facilities can take to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spreading in facilities that house pets:

  • Encourage workers to stay home if they are sick. Encourage workers and supervisors not to come to work if they are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and to take steps to help prevent the spread of the virus. See CDC’s Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers for more information.
  • Conduct daily health checks (e.g., symptom and/or temperature screening) of workers before they enter the facility. Use the “Should we be screening workers for COVID-19 symptoms ” section of General Business Frequently Asked Questions as a guide.
  • Seek emergency medical attention if someone is very sick or if they have any emergency warning signs of COVID-19. Call 911 or call ahead to a local emergency facility. Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.
  • Workers who are exposed to sick people or animals may need to self-monitor for temperature or other symptoms for a period of 14 days post-incident. See CDC Coronavirus Self-Checker for additional information on symptoms of COVID-19 and making decisions about seeking medical care.
  • Limit the number of people in the facility, the time they can spend there, and increase distance between workers, customers/visitors, and animals within the facility. The type and length of interactions that people have with animals should be limited within the facility. Whenever possible, workers and customers should maintain 6 feet (or about 2 meters) of distance between each other and between themselves and animals. Plan for social distancing and avoid crowding in the facility, including in animal and worker-only areas. Use signs, tape, or other visual clues to indicate where people should stand when physical barriers are not possible.
  • Install barriers where social distancing is difficult to maintain. If worker-customer or customer-pet interactions occur inside the facility, customers should stand behind a physical barrier, such as a glass or plastic window or partition that can serve to protect from respiratory droplets that may be produced during sneezing, coughing, or talking. This measures also can be used to protect animal displays and habitats from respiratory droplets from workers and customers.
  • Require all people within the facility to use cloth face coverings, especially where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Wearing a cloth face covering does NOT replace the need to practice social distancing.
    • If cloth face coverings are worn in these facilities, employers should provide readily available clean cloth face coverings (or disposable facemask options) for workers to use when the coverings become wet, soiled, or otherwise visibly contaminated.
  • Follow established guidance for cleaning, disinfection, and waste disposal. Implement practical biosecurity practices in breeding and animal holding facilities, including having dedicated boot disinfecting stations between different animal housing areas. For disinfection, use products that meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions prepared according to the manufacturer’s label for disinfection, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Always follow the directions on the label before use.
  • A 2-week quarantine period can be considered for new animals or groups of animals that arrive in a facility, where the animals are observed for any health concerns prior to being housed in close proximity with other animals within the facility.

Precautions workers and/or visitors to the facility should take around animals

When interacting with healthy animals, people within the facility should use the same precautions as would be used when interacting with other people: maintain social distance (6 feet, or 2 meters) when possible, minimize how long they are in close contact, and wear cloth face coverings when feasible.

  • Always immediately wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after:
    • Having direct contact with animals or their food, supplies, or waste/feces.
    • Cleaning up after animals, including any body fluids or waste.
    • Leaving areas where animals are housed, even if you did not touch an animal.
    • Removing PPE or cloth face covering.
  • General guidance to prevent zoonotic disease transmission from bites, scratches, or abrasions from animals: If a worker receives a bite, scratch or, abrasion from an animal, animal product, or an object contaminated by an animal, they should wash the exposed area of skin immediately with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, immediately alert their supervisor, and contact a healthcare provider. Animal bites and scratches can have other complications, such as bacterial infections, that may require medical attention.

Educate and train workers and supervisors about ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19

Employers should place simple posters in appropriate languages for their workers that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and proper hand hygiene practices. They should place these posters at the entrance to the workplace and in break areas, locker rooms, and other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.

OSHA provides informationexternal icon about training on its COVID-19 webpage and CDC guidance provides additional details for recommendations in the subsection “Educate workers about steps they can take to protect themselves at work and at home.”



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