Digital Desk: New research published on February 7 found that sneezing pet hamsters imported into Hong Kong most likely spread the highly transmissible Delta variant of the novel coronavirus, as well as spurred transmission, causing an outbreak among people.
A genetic analysis of viral samples from hamsters at a pet store by researchers at the University of Hong Kong revealed that the rodent may have been the outbreak’s source.
According to the study, a pet shop full of hamsters was responsible for the spread of the Delta variation in roughly 50 people, forcing Hong Kong authorities to order the culling of 2,000 hamsters.
“Hamsters are the second animal identified to have the ability to infect people. Previously, it was discovered that the farmed mink was responsible for comparable cases of Sars-CoV-2 transmission. A pet retailer employee was investigating the spread of covid-19 within the warehouse and discovered the Minsk’s as the source of infection. Hamsters are very sensitive to SARS-CoV-2.” according to a study released on Monday, February 7.
“To be fair to the hamsters, people are still much more likely to get infected by each other than by pets.” co-author of the study, Leo Poon, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong, said.
Marion Koopmans, a virologist at the Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, emphasized the importance of closely monitoring the hamster’s trade to stop covid-19 from spreading.
Reportedly, more than 100 hamsters were tested at the pet shop, and another 500 at the warehouse were also tested for the virus. Despite the variability in the sequences, the researchers decided that the hamsters were most likely infected in around November 2021. The animals were brought in from the Netherlands via a Hong Kong warehouse.
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