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People wearing face masks are a familiar sight during the outbreak of the coronavirus, but some have now confirmed that their pets are covered.

USA TODAY

Winston, the first dog believed to have a coronavirusIn America, you can easily rest now. The adorable, viral pug did not actually carry the virus, the USDA confirmed.

The revelation begins with USDA, the department responsible for the identification of COVID-19 cases in animals, has announced the first official case of the German Shepherd Dog Coronavirus in New York.

According to the dog, USDA report issued Tuesday, Two dog owners were symptomatic of COVID-19, one of which was positive and showed signs of respiratory disease. Another dog in the house was positive or had no test, but had the antibody.

The US Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory tested Winston, but “we couldn’t confirm the infection,” agency representative Lindsey Cole told USA TODAY.

“Weak detections from the original oral swab… could be the result of contamination from COVID-19-positive households,” she said in a statement.

Three members of the Winston human family —Dr. Heather McLean, Sam McLean and his son — COVID-19 tested in March, and researchers at Duke University where Heather works, told all households as part of a study on how to treat coronaviruses. We conducted a test.

Dr. Shelley Rankin, a veterinary microbiology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has nothing to do with Duke’s research, and told USA TODAY how to do research such as Duke and Veterinary Diagnostic Labs and USDA facilitating tests and handling methods. Said there may be disagreements. Of infected specimens.

“The sample may be positive initially, but it can be degraded by sample handling.”

“False positives can also occur when the original sample has a very low microbial count,” Rankin explained.

Guidance from veterinary groups, including American Veterinary Medical Association, Hasn’t changed much. Domestic pets remained less likely to be infected with COVID-19, and no evidence was found to suggest that animals could transmit the disease to humans.

Still, Rankin recommends avoiding contact with your pet if you have COVID-19. If you can’t find a person to care for your pet, AVMA recommends that you wear a mask and wash your hands back and forth on all interactions.

Duke’s researchers did not respond to requests for comments from USA TODAY.

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