Pandemonium!
It’s been 9 months of 2020 and our world continues to be shaken by this pandemic. Everything we’ve come to know and love has changed.
We’ve been:
Barred from social gatherings of greater than 10 people
Airports closed
Told to stay indoors at particular hours
Sent home from work and our salaries cut
We’ve even been asked not to hug our loved ones.
The simple process of a supermarket trip has been complicated by new sanitization precautions and lengthy lines. The slightest sniffle can cause the biggest uproar as individuals fear for not just their lives, but the lives of those they must interact with daily. There are those who follow the rules and those who completely disregard them, and in some situations the protocols either cannot be upheld or are not being enforced. There are even scares about animals contracting the virus and how that may spread.
All this causes great fear and I believe our best course of action is to remain safe and educated about this COVID-19 virus that has literally invaded our lives. Allow me to explain the key points you should remember.
COVID-19
First identified in Wuhan, China, December 2019, this new strain of coronavirus caused many stall owners, employees and regular visitors to the Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market to quickly become ill. The thought is that an infected human, animal or product was in the market and due to the high volume of traffic it easily spread to others. Investigations of Patient 0 and others continue to aid scientists better understand the virus. It has officially been present in Jamaica since March 2020 due to international travel and has caused travel restrictions to come into play.
This novel coronavirus belongs to the family of Coronaviruses known for causing illnesses from the common cold to severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Disease (SARS—Cov) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). It is believed to have a zoonotic source (meaning it originally came from animals), most likely bats in this case as other viruses in this family have been linked to them (though the specific animal has not yet been determined).
COVID-19, Pets & Their Owners
To date there is NO EVIDENCE THAT PETS CAN TRANSMIT THE VIRUS TO HUMANS. What is more likely is that WE can pass the virus to them. A few cats and dogs worldwide have been noted to have the virus and recover, barring those with underlying diseases. Research continues to uncover the role they play in this pandemic.
So what does this mean for you ?
To best protect your loved ones, stay away from your pet if you feel unwell. If you are the only one able to care for them, follow proper hand washing protocols before and after coming in contact with your pets or anything they are in contact with (toys, bowls, blankets etc.). The same goes for food preparation and you should still wear a mask.
Importantly, there are other conditions which may cause coughing or sneezing in dogs and cats, so if you identify these, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
With more stay at home protocols, we realize just how important our pets are to us as companions. They are cheery when we are down and give us comfort in these difficult times. In the long run, maintaining their health actually helps us maintain ours. Studies show that owning a pet lowers blood pressure and reduces stress. Thousands of years of interactions between humans and animals in a variety of settings have allowed us to understand what we now call, the Human-Animal bond. It is through this that we have learned of the mutually beneficial impacts one has on the other.
How do we get COVID-19 ?
As far as we understand it, the virus is transmitted human to human through respiratory droplets (coughing, sneezing, touching contaminated things). This explains why we are being advised to stay 6 feet away from each other, wear masks over our mouth and nose, to frequently sanitize our hands and to avoid physical contact especially with our hands. This is also why the number of people in a space MUST be reduced and markers on the floor used, so that it is less likely for someone to cough, sneeze or touch another person and transmit the virus. Following these precautions to the T is paramount to successfully reducing the infection rate.
Symptoms are flu-like but also include shortness of breath and range from mild to severe in intensity. The young, old and those with other health issues could be affected even worse, while others may not even experience symptoms. These asymptomatic individuals may be aiding the spread especially if they do not follow protocols. If you are unwell you are advised to quarantine and contact your doctor. Follow your country’s protocol if you suspect you have COVID-19.
COVID-19 & Humans with Underlying Health Issues
“Persons with comorbidities (underlying health issues) are more likely to have complications associated with COVID-19,” says Dr. Samantha Johnson, General Practitioner.
These include asthma, heart disease, hypotension, diabetes, obesity, cancer etc. and can greatly affect the body’s ability to overcome the virus. This is why the elderly are encouraged to stay indoors and limit contact with others. Young children are also largely at risk as their immune systems may not be fully developed and so are unable to fight the virus. Pregnancy, while naturally carrying its own risks, can be compromised by the virus and affect both mother and child negatively.
What do we do?
AVOID CROWDS & THOSE WHO RECENTLY TRAVELLED & THOSE SUSPECTED TO HAVE THE VIRUS!
“Since March we have had thousands infected and almost 100 deaths here in Jamaica. We currently have no cure or vaccine against this virus, which means our immune system is our first and most important line of defense,” says Dr. Johnson. Organizations and governments are working on potential vaccines and treatments that will stop the virus from claiming more lives.
Until we find this, I encourage you to follow governmental procedures and take a look at some of Dr. Johnson’s tips for staying healthy:
Avoid overly processed fast foods
Eat healthy fats such as nuts and avocados
Cook at home more and control what is in your meal
Drink more water!
Be active for at least 30 minutes a day!
Decrease your sugar intake
Practice proper food hygiene
Have fun with food and exercise to make it less of a chore
While these tips can’t help prevent you from becoming infected with COVID-19, they can help how your body fights it, should you contract it.
For more on COVID-19, read here:
World Health Organization (WHO) - https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
World Organization for Animal Health (OiE) - https://www.oie.int/scientific-expertise/specific-information-and-recommendations/questions-and-answers-on-2019novel-coronavirus/
Feel free to check out Dr. Johnson’s podcast The Layman’s Doctor for more health topics:
Dr. Samantha C. Johnson - http://linktr.ee/thelaymansdr
Website - https://www.thelaymansdoctor.com/podcast
For more on the Human-Animal Bond, read here:
Human Animal Bob Research Institute (Habri) - https://habri.org
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) - https://www.avma.org/one-health/human-animal-bond
Jamaica Veterinary Medical Association (JVMA) - http://www.jvma.org/thehumananimalbond.html
Stay Safe Everyone !
Dr. Simone M. Johnally
Veterinarian
Dr. Simone M. Johnally Veterinary Services
Dr. Samantha Johnson
General Practitioner